yowl

play

verb \ ˈyau̇(-ə)l \

Definition of yowl

intransitive verb

1 :to utter a loud long cry of grief, pain, or distress :wail

2 :to complain or protest with or as if with yowls

transitive verb

:to express with yowling

See yowl defined for English-language learners

See yowl defined for kids

Examples of yowl in a Sentence

The cat was yowling outside.
He was yowling in pain.

Recent Examples of yowl from the Web

At 6:30 a.m.on July 12, Plumey jumped off and yowled at Trey Guzman, who went to her mother’s room.

— elinor j. brecher, miamiherald, "Meg Laughlin, former Tropic writer who gave voice to the vulnerable, dies at 70," 12 July 2017
Thirty years before Nirvana and Sub Pop made Seattle ground zero for grunge, there was another mélange of raw, thumping rhythms, surf guitar and yowling vocals emanating from the Pacific Northwest.

— courtney devores, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte pilot rocks into retirement with influential ’60s garage rock band," 18 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of yowl

Middle English

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

yowl Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, 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), complain

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

yowl

noun

Definition of yowl

:a loud long mournful wail or howl (as of a cat)

Examples of yowl in a Sentence

the cat gave a yowl of anger

Recent Examples of yowl from the Web

The Stones tucked lifelong blues scholarship behind the kick and yowl of the music.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Rolling Stones Paint It Blue on Their New Album," 9 Nov. 2016
Kittens yowl on the dashboard of her old truck, whose windows are up despite the stifling heat.

— by michael browning, miamiherald, "A desolated landscape: the toll of Hurricane Andrew," 25 Aug. 2015

First Known Use of yowl

15th century

yowl Synonyms

Synonyms

cry, holler, hoot, howl, whoop, yell, shout

Related Words

ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wail

Near Antonyms

mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper

YOWL Defined for English Language Learners

yowl

play

verb

Definition of yowl for English Language Learners

: to make a loud, long cry of grief, pain, or distress

YOWL Defined for Kids

yowl

play

verb \ ˈyau̇l \

Definition of yowl for Students

yowled; yowling

:to utter a loud long cry (as of pain or suffering)

yowl

noun

Definition of yowl for Students

:a loud long cry (as of pain or suffering)

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See words that rhyme with yowl Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yowl Spanish Central: Translation of yowl Nglish: Translation of yowl for Spanish speakers

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Origin and Etymology of yowl

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yowl

Definition of yowl

Examples of yowl in a Sentence

Recent Examples of yowl from the Web

First Known Use of yowl

yowl Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

YOWL Defined for English Language Learners

yowl

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