yowl

1 of 2

verb

ˈyau̇(-ə)l 

yowled; yowling; yowls

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

yowl

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• 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
• yaup

Noun

• cry
• holler
• hoot
• howl
• shout
• whoop
• yell

Examples of yowl in a Sentence

Verb

The cat was yowling outside.

He was yowling in pain.

Noun

the cat gave a yowl of anger

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Whatever Laura’s up to involves circles and water and whatever’s gone wrong with Oliver — and, quite possibly, her pet dog (dead and stuffed) and cat (alive and yowling through the movie). —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025

This ranges from the everyday meowing and purring; to yowling to indicate distress; chattering when spotting prey outside of its reach; and chirping to communicate with kittens, according to PetMD. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Noun

Some hockey teams have incorporated sound effects into their celebratory goal-horn noise—a cannon blast for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a cat’s yowl for the Florida Panthers. —Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

In the video, Shona—a Rhodesian ridgeback—sits in the back seat, letting out an intense yowl and staring fixedly out the window at something her owner couldn't see. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

yowl

verb

ˈyau̇(ə)l

: to utter a loud long often mournful cry or howl

the cats were yowling all night

yowl noun