growl

¹growl

verb \ˈgrau̇(-ə)l\

Definition of GROWL

intransitive verb

1

a : rumble <his stomach growled>

b : to utter a growl <the dog growled at the stranger>

2

: to complain angrily

transitive verb

: to utter with a growl : utter angrily

Examples of GROWL

1. I could hear a dog growling behind me.
2. My stomach's been growling all morning.
3. “What do you want?” he growled.
4. He's always growling about the government.

Origin of GROWL

Middle English groulen, grollen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GROWL

Synonyms

beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, complain, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Antonyms

crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words

object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms

accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

²growl

noun

Definition of GROWL

: a deep guttural inarticulate sound

Examples of GROWL

1. The dog gave a menacing growl.
2. He answered my question with a growl.
3. We could hear a growl of thunder in the distance.

First Known Use of GROWL

1715

Rhymes with GROWL

cowl, dowel, foul, fowl, howl, jowl, prowl, rowel, scowl, towel, trowel, yowl