growl

verb

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\ ˈgrau̇(-ə)l

growled; growling; growls

Definition of growl

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : 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

growl

noun

Definition of growl (Entry 2 of 2)

: a deep guttural inarticulate sound

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about growl

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Synonyms & Antonyms for growl

Synonyms: Verb

beef,
bellyache,
bitch,
bleat,
carp,
caterwaul,
complain,
crab,
croak,
fuss,
gripe,
grizzle,
grouch,
grouse,
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: Verb

Examples of growl in a Sentence

Verb I could hear a dog growling behind me. My stomach's been growling all morning. “What do you want?” he growled. He's always growling about the government. Noun The dog gave a menacing growl. He answered my question with a growl. We could hear a growl of thunder in the distance.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Jackie may not growl though, and instead, have a blank expression across her face. — Cathy M. Rosenthal, ExpressNews.com, "Animals Matter: Why does younger dog pick on older dog?," 6 Nov. 2020 Dogs, or something like them, growl in the shadows. — Alex Kane, USA TODAY, "The Mandalorian is back—and it doesn't disappoint," 30 Oct. 2020 But once Bluestein started working from home, Dottie began to growl at passersby. — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, "Dogs, too, can find the pandemic disorienting," 24 Aug. 2020 But all of us should work hard not to growl at all. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: Working from home reveals unsavory habits," 28 July 2020 Learn How to Hit Those Notes With Christina Aguilera Five-time Grammy Award winner, Christina Aguilera teaches warm-up exercises, breath control, vibrato, and how to perform her signature growls. — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, "15 of the Coolest MasterClass Courses You Can Take Right Now," 14 Apr. 2020 Saint Jerome This painting, on loan from the Vatican Museums, is an unfinished depiction of the Roman Catholic saint, draped in a sheet and kneeling in a desert as a lion growls at his feet. — Farah Nayeri, New York Times, "How the Louvre’s Leonardo Blockbuster Shows a Master’s Progress," 21 Oct. 2019 Miss Anastasia is a showwoman, yipping and yowling, growling and grunting. — Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, "Miss Anastasia to celebrate 20 years of telling tales at The Twig Book Shop in San Antonio," 18 Feb. 2020 Keep your volume up for a constantly changing, only-in-Africa symphony of snorts, grunts, growls, splashes, and chirps. — Lindsay Lambert Day, Condé Nast Traveler, "These Wildlife Webcams Will Cure Your Cabin Fever," 18 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Spurs Go: With every Dejounte Murray growl and with every Lonnie Walker laugh and with every Keldon Johnson primal scream, an exuberant new generation is changing a franchise’s personality. — San Antonio Express-News, "Express Briefing: Black, Latino Texans face equity concerns over vaccine data," 1 Feb. 2021 The first growl had come from behind us, at the end of the beach. — Mariana Enriquez, The New Yorker, "Our Lady of the Quarry," 14 Dec. 2020 The fat was rendered to its golden sweet spot, and the bark gave off the gravelly growl of salt, pepper and something savory ($11.25 per half-pound). — Mike Sutter, ExpressNews.com, "Among San Antonio’s best barbecue restaurants are 3 new places that opened in the last year," 7 Jan. 2021 His desire to hug and kiss the dog is sometimes met with a growl. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Ask Amy: Grandparents treated like toddlers, act like teens," 27 Nov. 2020 His desire to hug and kiss the dog is sometimes met with a growl. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Ask Amy: Grandparents treated like toddlers, act like teens," 27 Nov. 2020 Especially after forgoing the Grinch’s trademark growl, Morrison can’t hold a candle to Jim Carrey’s cinematic take. — Washington Post, "Matthew Morrison’s unsettling ‘Grinch’ is a natural conclusion to 2020," 10 Dec. 2020 Buddy was playing outside Kaleb Benham’s Nevada County home the day before Thanksgiving when Benham heard a growl and saw a bear had the dog in its mouth, CBS 13 Sacramento reported. — Peter Aitken, Fox News, "California man punches 350-pound bear in face to save beloved dog 'Buddy'," 7 Dec. 2020 His desire to hug and kiss the dog is sometimes met with a growl. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Ask Amy: Grandparents treated like toddlers, act like teens," 27 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'growl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Growl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growl. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for growl

growl

verb

English Language Learners Definition of growl

(Entry 1 of 2)

of an animal : to make a deep threatening sound

: to make a low sound like the sound of a growling animal

: to say (something) in an angry way

growl

noun

English Language Learners Definition of growl (Entry 2 of 2)

: a deep sound made by an animal also : a similar sound

See the full definition for growl in the English Language Learners Dictionary

growl

verb

\ ˈgrau̇l

growled; growling

Kids Definition of growl

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make a deep threatening sound The dog growled.

2 : to make a low rumbling noise My stomach is growling.

3 : to complain or say in an angry way “Only use them when we absolutely have to,” growled Azaz disgustedly.— Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

growl

noun

Kids Definition of growl (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a deep threatening sound (as of an animal)

2 : a grumbling or muttered complaint

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