as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval
the band's sloppy playing produced only catcalls from the crowd
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catcall
Eric Hansen, Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2020
When the 43-year-old came to the stage here at a university student center in the Detroit suburbs, about half of the crowd gave her a standing ovation – and the other half unleashed a chorus of boos and catcalls.
—Griff Witte, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
There were catcalls from a disappointed Orediggers sideline, in an attempt to shout down the young Lions cornerback, who firmly stood his ground, wearing an unbeatable smile that’s a blessing of his genes.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2019
Should the rare Dolphins touchdown bring cheers or catcalls?
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for catcall
Noun
Meet the Fighting Irish opponents, dates and locations for 2020, along with a prominent returning opposing player Indianapolis Star
SOUTH BEND — Brian Kelly hears the whispers, which sometimes probably feel more like catcalls.
—Eric Hansen, Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2020
When the 43-year-old came to the stage here at a university student center in the Detroit suburbs, about half of the crowd gave her a standing ovation – and the other half unleashed a chorus of boos and catcalls.
—Griff Witte, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019
There were catcalls from a disappointed Orediggers sideline, in an attempt to shout down the young Lions cornerback, who firmly stood his ground, wearing an unbeatable smile that’s a blessing of his genes.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2019
Should the rare Dolphins touchdown bring cheers or catcalls?
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for catcall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catcall
Noun
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
About 100 feet from the sheriff’s immaculate enclave, jailers who worked for Smith jeered as Mitchell shivered in his own waste, court records show.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Video uploaded to social media shows the officers being battered by snowballs outside the rest rooms as dozens of parkgoers crowd around filming the cops and jeering at them.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If a debt collector begins yelling, insulting or using offensive language toward you during calls, that behavior may qualify as harassment.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
People were insulting me, we Argentines like that, but with respect for everything.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gosling said in his trademark slight-smirk delivery.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The review delayed the game, and McCarron returned with a smirk on his face and skated to the penalty box with no injury.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Though Claudius ridicules Hamlet for his emotional vulnerability, his grief drives him to avenge his father and emerge as a hero.—
Jeanette Tran,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The man refused a security officer’s instructions to leave the front of the stage, so after a brief back-and-forth, he was physically removed to a chorus of audience boos.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In an era in high school sports where boos, jeers, and uncalled-for chants are the status quo, Shelton steers fans to uplift rather than put down.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The moment quickly went viral on social media, as many users chimed in to deride O'Leary's fashion.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
-
News of the concert comes on the heels of a tumultuous few years for Ye, once a titan of the genre, who has since become better known for public outbursts on social media deriding both Jewish and Black people.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catcall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catcall. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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