as in scowling
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in glaring
to look with anger or disapproval
the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frowning
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Derek Hinkey’s character, the Shoshone warrior Red Feather, is almost always frowning at white settlers, looking undeniably foreboding with his face slathered in black paint and galloping on horseback into battle.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Neither smiling nor frowning, her gaze seems one of purpose.
—Jennifer Brett, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Nov. 2025
The film opens with a montage of nameless women across different eras and places smiling invitingly toward the camera, then frowning and glaring at it, and finally screaming while drenched in blood.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
One mask depicts a frowning hobo with a 5 o'clock shadow that represents the aforementioned vagrant.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
Derek Hinkey’s character, the Shoshone warrior Red Feather, is almost always frowning at white settlers, looking undeniably foreboding with his face slathered in black paint and galloping on horseback into battle.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Neither smiling nor frowning, her gaze seems one of purpose.
—Jennifer Brett, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Nov. 2025
The film opens with a montage of nameless women across different eras and places smiling invitingly toward the camera, then frowning and glaring at it, and finally screaming while drenched in blood.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frowning
Verb
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Part of me believes that, if Indiana wins, Cignetti should retire after this season and spend the rest of his life on a beach, scowling at resort attendants and being basically unimpeachable forever.—
Will Leitch,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Picture Andy Warhol scowling in the corner of the billiards room.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Horned Frogs also needed to strengthen the cornerback room, which was the glaring weakness of the team.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
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Some scouts will call it an outlier, while others will see the recurring struggles Morton faces in big games as a glaring red flag.—
Ty Kaplan,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Below-average play is often staring you right in the face while catastrophe lurks around the corner.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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The face in question, below, involves Sherman staring with her mouth agape.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While Nina’s 7-year-old daughter, Cece (Indiana Elle), is sullen, and her dreamboat husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), is politely cautious about the prospect of a live-in housekeeper, Nina herself seems nice enough at first, if a little intense.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
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Shane, a wholesome Canadian, anchors his national team and is drafted by the Montreal Metros, while Russian team anchor Ilya is a seemingly sullen bad boy drafted by the Boston Raiders.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to not being a major proponent of black and white, Scheck isn't a fan of going all in with gray and white, either.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
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The palette in the sleeping quarters is neutral—beiges and reddish browns, touches of sage green and gray—while the bathrooms are clad in dramatic black marble.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frowning. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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