You could use the word 'wept' or 'shed a tear'.
sobbed
sobbed
The baby cried because it was hungry.
the child cried lustily.
The past tense is cried.
Just one syllable.
"cried" is the past tense form of the verb "cry". To prove it is a verb, you can use it with a subject: "I cried, you cried, they cried".
Cried only has one syllable. The -ed makes it sound like two, but it is only one.
Instead of using the word challenging you can use the word gifted, special, special gifted.
You can use heaps of different words like, Growled, mumbled, cried, shouted, screamed, snapped, laughed, giggled, replied, asked, smiled, chuckled, grinned. Those are words i use in my stories!
She solemnly sat on her bed and cried until she finally fell asleep.
Ryan cried when he heard the disparaging news that his mom had been killed.