wail vs cry

wail and cry both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
wail	Yes	No	Yes	No
cry	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, cry is a hypernym of wail; that is, cry is a word with a broader meaning than wail:

Other hypernyms of wail include weep.

As verbs, cry is a hypernym of wail; that is, cry is a word with a broader meaning than wail:

Other hypernyms of wail include call, holler, hollo, scream, shout, shout out, squall, yell.

wail (noun)	cry (noun)
a cry of sorrow and grief	a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
	a fit of weeping
	a slogan used to rally support for a cause
	a loud utterance of emotion (especially when inarticulate)
	the characteristic utterance of an animal

wail (verb)	cry (verb)
cry weakly or softly	shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
emit long loud cries	bring into a particular state by crying
	utter a sudden loud cry
	proclaim or announce in public
	utter a characteristic sound
	utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
	demand immediate action