scowled; scowling; scowls
1
: to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure
2
: to exhibit a threatening aspect
: to express with a scowl
scowler
noun
Synonyms
Examples of scowl in a Sentence
Verb
scowled down at the misbehaving child
Noun
The teacher gave me a scowl when I walked in late.
She responded to his question with a scowl.
Recent Examples on the Web
George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023
The Deal sisters’ cooing vocals against their scowling guitars, those impenetrable lyrics, that lifeguard whistle beckoning us … where exactly?
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Neeson does his best to bring integrity to the role, exuding a weary nobility while Condon scowls and snarls and probably spends a lot of time thinking wistfully about Martin McDonagh’s dialogue.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2023
Political soothsayers also tend to forget that Trump may be spending considerable time early in the year scowling in courtrooms with the possibility of multiple guilty verdicts hovering over the campaign.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
Their front-of-house staff was notorious for not acknowledging — and occasionally scowling at — members of the public.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, surrendered Thursday in that case, posing with a scowling face for the first mug shot in American history of a former U.S. president.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
After Trump was booked Thursday evening -- scowling at the camera for the first-ever mug shot of a former president -- seven co-defendants who had not yet surrendered did so Friday morning.
—Kate Brumback and Russ Bynum The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Months back, when Ford unveiled that glassy cockpit, with a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, loyalists scowled; Mustangs had never worn anything like it.
—Sam Smith, Car and Driver, 25 Aug. 2023
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 31 May 2023
The 30-something Brooklynite played by Arnow herself (in a perpetual Garfield the cat scowl) goes on dull dates and powers through a numbing office job.
—Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2023
Trump surrendered Thursday in the Georgia case, posing with a scowl for the first mug shot in American history of a former U.S. president.
—Eric Tucker, Lindsay Whitehurst, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2023
In reality, Pee-wee Herman was nothing like us at all, a dreamy man-child in a red bow tie whose sugary smile could curl into a punky scowl.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2023
Her hair woven into thin blonde braids, her face a sultry scowl, the model sported a cream sweater interwoven with waterfalls of yarn in Rainbow Brite-esque colors.
—The Editors, ELLE, 24 July 2023
His default facial expression, something like an inquisitive scowl, has been replaced with a relaxed grin.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 14 July 2023
The 2023 Tony Awards were bursting with that try-hard musical-theatre-kid energy, tempered somewhat by Stoppard’s bemused scowl.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 June 2023
Berry’s public image showcased a winning smile and a winking eye, whereas most reports of backstage meetings tended to emphasize a forbidding scowl and basilisk stare.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
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Verb
Williams, wearing a sage green sweater and forest green tie, occasionally scowled as Glanville read charges to the jury for his co-defendants, otherwise smiling when talking with his attorney or others in court.
—George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023
The Deal sisters’ cooing vocals against their scowling guitars, those impenetrable lyrics, that lifeguard whistle beckoning us … where exactly?
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Neeson does his best to bring integrity to the role, exuding a weary nobility while Condon scowls and snarls and probably spends a lot of time thinking wistfully about Martin McDonagh’s dialogue.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2023
Political soothsayers also tend to forget that Trump may be spending considerable time early in the year scowling in courtrooms with the possibility of multiple guilty verdicts hovering over the campaign.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
Their front-of-house staff was notorious for not acknowledging — and occasionally scowling at — members of the public.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023
Trump, the early front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, surrendered Thursday in that case, posing with a scowling face for the first mug shot in American history of a former U.S. president.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
After Trump was booked Thursday evening -- scowling at the camera for the first-ever mug shot of a former president -- seven co-defendants who had not yet surrendered did so Friday morning.
—Kate Brumback and Russ Bynum The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2023
Months back, when Ford unveiled that glassy cockpit, with a 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, loyalists scowled; Mustangs had never worn anything like it.
—Sam Smith, Car and Driver, 25 Aug. 2023
Noun
Gwen, looking edgy in a pink-tinged undercut and punk-rock scowl, is going through her own struggles with Dad — her father, like Jeff, is a police officer — so is ripe for recruitment when a mysterious group of Spidery superheroes invite her to join their elite strike force.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 31 May 2023
The 30-something Brooklynite played by Arnow herself (in a perpetual Garfield the cat scowl) goes on dull dates and powers through a numbing office job.
—Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2023
Trump surrendered Thursday in the Georgia case, posing with a scowl for the first mug shot in American history of a former U.S. president.
—Eric Tucker, Lindsay Whitehurst, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2023
In reality, Pee-wee Herman was nothing like us at all, a dreamy man-child in a red bow tie whose sugary smile could curl into a punky scowl.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2023
Her hair woven into thin blonde braids, her face a sultry scowl, the model sported a cream sweater interwoven with waterfalls of yarn in Rainbow Brite-esque colors.
—The Editors, ELLE, 24 July 2023
His default facial expression, something like an inquisitive scowl, has been replaced with a relaxed grin.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 14 July 2023
The 2023 Tony Awards were bursting with that try-hard musical-theatre-kid energy, tempered somewhat by Stoppard’s bemused scowl.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 June 2023
Berry’s public image showcased a winning smile and a winking eye, whereas most reports of backstage meetings tended to emphasize a forbidding scowl and basilisk stare.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scowl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English skoulen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish skule to scowl
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1520, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of scowl was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near scowl
Cite this Entry
“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scowl. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
scowl
1 of 2 verb1
: to make a frowning expression of displeasure
2
: to exhibit or express with a scowl
scowler
noun
scowl
2 of 2 noun
: an expression of displeasure on the face : frown
More from Merriam-Webster on scowl
Nglish: Translation of scowl for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of scowl for Arabic Speakers
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