as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
like many kids during summer vacation, they were caterwauling about the lack of things to do
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as in yowl
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Recent Examples of caterwaul
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023
An ambulance caterwauled down Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel one block below.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Until Ivey and the Department of Corrections can explain how the prison construction program caterwauled out of control, lawmakers should put the brakes on all state spending.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 17 Mar. 2023
Republicans could caterwaul about the skyrocketing debt without actually having to do anything about it except express their disapproval. Getting most creative.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 29 Sep. 2021
In a season of a lively baseball, the Twins hit a silly number of home runs and came caterwauling out of the great north and took their division.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2019
The media–Democrat caterwauling over Trump’s election-rigging spiel was not rooted in patriotic commitment to the American democratic tradition of accepting election outcomes.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 16 Aug. 2019
Media outlets that caterwaul about all this become the victims of commercial crises.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
This lets Congress caterwaul on behalf of special interests while blaming Presidents for not punishing foreigners.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 June 2018
Verb
That said, Shelton’s lyrics are much more darkly relatable and heartbreaking than someone caterwauling about being their own worst enemy.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023
An ambulance caterwauled down Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel one block below.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Until Ivey and the Department of Corrections can explain how the prison construction program caterwauled out of control, lawmakers should put the brakes on all state spending.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 17 Mar. 2023
Republicans could caterwaul about the skyrocketing debt without actually having to do anything about it except express their disapproval. Getting most creative.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 29 Sep. 2021
In a season of a lively baseball, the Twins hit a silly number of home runs and came caterwauling out of the great north and took their division.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2019
The media–Democrat caterwauling over Trump’s election-rigging spiel was not rooted in patriotic commitment to the American democratic tradition of accepting election outcomes.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 16 Aug. 2019
Media outlets that caterwaul about all this become the victims of commercial crises.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
This lets Congress caterwaul on behalf of special interests while blaming Presidents for not punishing foreigners.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caterwaul
Verb
-
Preservationists are complaining that Tranquillity’s plan would harm the open views in that part of town.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins complained to public broadcaster Radio New Zealand that the bill is only meant to grab attention.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
-
Yes, that would be Post Malone, who convincingly simulated Kurt Cobain’s phlegmy yowls, rocking the mic as Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic thrashed and crashed around him.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The audience screamed in approval for the coming out, as seen in a TikTok from the show.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Benintendi then fouled off a fastball before ripping the next and sending it screaming toward the gap in right-center.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His grandson toddled over, climbed into his lap, accepted a kiss with a screech of delight, and scooted off again.—
Ben Ehrenreich,
Harpers Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
-
One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt.—
Viren Naidu,
IndieWire,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe if the teen had whined less, viewers wouldn't have yearned to see her get eaten by some Hellmouth beast.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Megan Michelson is an Outside contributing editor who loves long drives, even when her two children are whining in the backseat.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
But the Francophone descriptor fails to conjure the dust her voice kicks up, the grit and moan that hang in the air after each song.—
Carrie Brownstein,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Having been browbeaten by the negativity of previous coaches Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, having a manager who didn't dismiss the idea the team could be title challengers or moan about a lack of talent was refreshing.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The animals use complex clicks, squawks and whistles to call out to each other, fight and attract a mate.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The show is thrilling as a sensory experience, humming with sinister percussive beats and the occasional muffled animal squawk in the distance.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
When Golden took the stage, there was a roar of cheers and fireworks exploded over the city.—
Sam Farmer,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
While the roar of the engines and smell of burning rubber are very familiar to fans of stock car racing, there’s a distinct allure about NHRA events.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caterwaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caterwaul. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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