Cry vs. Sob — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 25, 2024
Crying is a general expression of emotion, often with tears, while sobbing is a more intense, audible form of crying characterized by deep breaths.
Difference Between Cry and Sob
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Crying is a broad term that refers to the act of shedding tears as a response to an emotional state, such as sadness, happiness, or frustration. Whereas sobbing is a specific type of crying that is louder, involves gasping or catching one's breath, and is usually indicative of deep emotional distress or overwhelming joy.
Cries can vary in intensity and cause, ranging from quiet tears due to mild upset to loud wailing in response to severe distress. On the other hand, sobbing is almost always associated with strong emotions and is characterized by a distinctive, heaving, or convulsive inhalation.
While crying can be a response to physical pain or a wide range of emotions, sobbing is typically reserved for moments of great sorrow, grief, or extreme happiness. Sobbing, therefore, is seen as a more intense form of crying that is harder to control and often requires a greater effort to soothe.
Crying serves as a natural emotional release and a way to communicate distress or need from infancy through adulthood. Meanwhile, sobbing can be a cathartic expression, helping individuals release pent-up emotions and even lead to a sense of relief after intense episodes.
The physical manifestations of crying can include moist eyes and a slight quiver in the voice. In contrast, sobbing is marked by significant physical signs such as shaking, loud wails, and difficulty speaking due to the intensity of the emotional response.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
The act of shedding tears in response to an emotion.
A loud, convulsive form of crying.
Intensity
Can vary from mild to intense.
Generally more intense and harder to control.
Sound
May be silent or accompanied by mild sounds.
Characterized by loud wailing and gasping sounds.
Emotional Cause
Can be due to a wide range of emotions.
Typically associated with deep emotional distress.
Physical Signs
Moist eyes, slight quiver in voice.
Shaking, difficulty speaking, loud wails.
Compare with Definitions
Cry
Expression of Emotion.
She couldn't help but cry during the emotional movie.
Sob
Overwhelming Joy.
He sobbed with happiness when he saw his family after years.
Cry
Physical Pain.
The child began to cry after falling off his bike.
Sob
Deep Emotional Distress.
After hearing the news, she sobbed uncontrollably.
Cry
Out of Frustration.
Overwhelmed with work, he cried out of sheer frustration.
Sob
Grieving.
At the funeral, many sobbed for the loss of a great soul.
Cry
Release of Stress.
After the exam, she cried, releasing weeks of built-up stress.
Sob
Feeling of Helplessness.
Lost and alone, she sobbed in the dark room.
Cry
For Attention.
The baby cried to get her mother's attention.
Sob
Cathartic Release.
After sobbing for hours, she felt a sense of relief.
Cry
Shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
Don't cry—it'll be all right
You'll cry tears of joy
Sob
A son of a bitch.
Cry
Shout or scream, typically to express fear, pain, or grief
The little girl fell down and cried for mummy
Sob
The act or sound of sobbing.
Cry
(of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call
The wild birds cried out over the water
Sob
To weep aloud with convulsive gasping; cry uncontrollably.
Cry
A loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion
A cry of despair
Sob
To make a sound resembling that of loud weeping.
Cry
The loud characteristic call of a bird or other animal
The harsh cries of magpies
Sob
To utter with sobs.
Cry
A spell of shedding tears
I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead
Sob
To put or bring (oneself) into a specified condition by sobbing
Sob oneself to sleep.
Cry
A pack of hounds
He kept a cry of hounds to hunt in the wilderness
Sob
A cry with a short, sudden expulsion of breath.
Cry
To shed tears, especially as a result of strong emotion such as grief, sorrow, pain, or joy.
Sob
(onomatopoeia) sound of sob
Cry
To call loudly; shout.
Sob
(intransitive) To weep with convulsive gasps.
Cry
To utter a characteristic sound or call. Used of an animal.
Sob
(transitive) To say (something) while sobbing.
"He doesn't love me!" she sobbed.
Cry
To demand or require immediate action or remedy
Grievances crying out for redress.
Sob
To soak.
Cry
To utter loudly; call out.
Sob
To soak.
Cry
To proclaim or announce in public
Crying one's wares in the marketplace.
Sob
To sigh with a sudden heaving of the breast, or with a kind of convulsive motion; to sigh with tears, and with a convulsive drawing in of the breath.
Sobbing is the same thing [as sighing], stronger.
She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair.She rent her garments, and she tore her hair.
Cry
To bring into a particular condition by weeping
Cry oneself to sleep.
Sob
The act of sobbing; a convulsive sigh, or inspiration of the breath, as in sorrow.
Break, heart, or choke with sobs my hated breath.
Cry
(Archaic) To beg for; implore
Cry forgiveness.
Sob
Any sorrowful cry or sound.
The tremulous sob of the complaining owl.
Cry
A loud utterance of an emotion, such as fear, anger, or despair.
Sob
A dyspneic condition
Cry
A loud exclamation; a shout or call.
Sob
Insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous
Cry
A fit of weeping
Had a good long cry.
Sob
Convulsive gasp made while weeping
Cry
An urgent entreaty or appeal.
Sob
Weep convulsively;
He was sobbing inconsolably
Cry
A public or general demand or complaint.
Cry
A common view or general report.
Cry
An advertising of wares by calling out
Vendors' cries at the fish market.
Cry
A rallying call or signal
A cry to arms.
Cry
A slogan, especially a political one.
Cry
The characteristic call or utterance of an animal.
Cry
The baying of hounds during the chase.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
Cry
(Obsolete) Clamor; outcry.
Cry
(Obsolete) A public announcement; a proclamation.
Cry
(intransitive) To shed tears; to weep.
That sad movie always makes me cry.
Cry
(transitive) To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
Cry
(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
Cry
(intransitive) To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
Cry
(transitive) To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
Tonight I’ll cry myself to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, auctioned, etc.
To cry goods
Cry
Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
Cry
A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry.
Cry
A shout or scream.
I heard a cry from afar.
Cry
Words shouted or screamed.
A battle cry
Cry
A clamour or outcry.
Cry
(collectively) A group of hounds.
Cry
A pack or company of people.
Cry
(of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
Cry
A desperate or urgent request.
Cry
(obsolete) Common report; gossip.
Cry
To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Some cried after him to return.
Cry
To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief, or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a child.
Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.
I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry like a woman.
Cry
To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals.
The young ravens which cry.
In a cowslip's bell I lieThere I couch when owls do cry.
Cry
To utter loudly; to call out; to shout; to sound abroad; to declare publicly.
All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I 'll speak.
The man . . . ran on,crying, Life! life! Eternal life!
Cry
To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping; as, to cry one's self to sleep.
Cry
To make oral and public proclamation of; to declare publicly; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, ets.; as, to cry goods, etc.
Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
Cry
To publish the banns of, as for marriage.
I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, because they would not be under the restraints of it.
Cry
A loud utterance; especially, the inarticulate sound produced by one of the lower animals; as, the cry of hounds; the cry of wolves.
Cry
Outcry; clamor; tumult; popular demand.
Again that cry was found to have been as unreasonable as ever.
Cry
Any expression of grief, distress, etc., accompanied with tears or sobs; a loud sound, uttered in lamentation.
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land.
An infant crying in the night,An infant crying for the light;And with no language but a cry.
Cry
Loud expression of triumph or wonder or of popular acclamation or favor.
The cry went once on thee.
Cry
Importunate supplication.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls.
Cry
Public advertisement by outcry; proclamation, as by hawkers of their wares.
The street cries of London.
Cry
Common report; fame.
The cry goes that you shall marry her.
Cry
A word or phrase caught up by a party or faction and repeated for effect; as, the party cry of the Tories.
All now depends upon a good cry.
Cry
A pack of hounds.
A cry more tunableWas never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
Cry
A pack or company of persons; - in contempt.
Would not this . . . get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
Cry
The crackling noise made by block tin when it is bent back and forth.
Cry
A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition;
The speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience
Cry
A loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate);
A cry of rage
A yell of pain
Cry
A slogan used to rally support for a cause;
A cry to arms
Our watchword will be `democracy'
Cry
A fit of weeping;
Had a good cry
Cry
The characteristic utterance of an animal;
Animal cries filled the night
Cry
Utter a sudden loud cry;
She cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle
I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me
Cry
Utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy;
`I won!' he exclaimed
`Help!' she cried
`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost
Cry
Proclaim or announce in public;
Before we had newspapers, a town cryer would cry the news
He cried his merchandise in the market square
Cry
Demand immediate action;
This situation is crying for attention
Cry
Utter a characteristic sound;
The cat was crying
Cry
Bring into a particular state by crying;
The little boy cried himself to sleep
Common Curiosities
Is it possible to cry without tears?
While crying is usually associated with tears, people can experience the emotional state of crying without shedding tears, especially in cases of dehydration or certain medical conditions.
What causes a person to cry?
Crying can be triggered by a wide range of emotions, from sadness and frustration to extreme happiness and relief.
What distinguishes sobbing from crying?
Sobbing is a more intense form of crying, marked by louder, convulsive gasps, and is typically a response to deeper emotional distress.
Is sobbing louder than crying?
Yes, sobbing is generally louder than crying and involves convulsive breaths.
How can one stop crying or sobbing?
Techniques include deep breathing, distraction, talking about feelings, or seeking comfort from others.
Can watching movies make you cry?
Yes, movies can trigger emotional responses, including crying, due to empathy and emotional investment in the story.
Why does sobbing often lead to a headache?
Sobbing can lead to headaches due to the physical strain of crying intensely, dehydration, and sinus pressure.
Is it normal to cry every day?
Occasional crying is normal, but daily crying can be a sign of underlying emotional issues that might require attention.
Can crying be beneficial?
Yes, crying can serve as an emotional release and stress reliever, often leading to a sense of relief.
How do babies communicate through crying?
Babies cry to communicate a variety of needs and discomforts, including hunger, pain, and the need for attention or comfort.
Do men cry less than women?
Studies suggest that, on average, women cry more frequently than men, possibly due to societal norms and biological differences.
Can animals cry or sob?
While animals can show signs of distress, the emotional crying and sobbing seen in humans is not directly comparable to any behaviors observed in animals.
Is sobbing without sound possible?
Yes, people can experience silent sobbing, where they have the physical convulsions of sobbing without making loud sounds.
What role does culture play in crying and sobbing?
Cultural norms significantly influence how people express and perceive crying and sobbing, with some cultures being more accepting than others.
Can crying and sobbing be manipulative?
While crying is often a genuine expression of emotion, it can be used manipulatively in some contexts to elicit sympathy or achieve a desired outcome.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Eraser vs. Rubber
Next Comparison
Bevel vs. BezelAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
