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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of frowning
Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Smiling can actually lift your mood, while frowning can lower it.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
The men stood frowning at each other and then back at Adi until the one without the gun broke into croaks of laughter.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Smiling can actually lift your mood, while frowning can lower it.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
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
-
He was picked up first on meth charges on May 14, 1986, according to news reports and a San Francisco police booking photo, which shows him in a blue hoodie scowling into the camera.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Then there was that image circulating in the bowels of the internet that showed a man who looked exactly like JD scowling at an unidentifiable brunette woman in a restaurant.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Multiple teams began using the feedback to improve areas that players had highlighted as glaring weaknesses.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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Founded by sisters Miko and Titi Branch, the Black‑owned brand helped fill a glaring gap in the market for products that actually understand curly, coily, and textured hair.—
Kieaundria Bellamy,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After taking his skis off, Klæbo sat hunched over, staring into the snow, before standing up and congratulating his teammates and the rest of the finishers.—
Nathaniel Herz,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
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Kids leaned over the sideline staring at fresh paint that had not learned the language of pickup games yet.—
D’Joumbarey Moreau,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
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And Venter’s fiery and edgy Jessie May is sullen, controlling and cruel.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Whichever silhouette you’re drawn to, their popularity lies in their chameleonic quality to look good with both neutrals, from white to black to shades of gray, and trending seasonal shades, like red and cobalt blue.—
Lucrezia Malavolta,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
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Video showed a gray sedan engulfed in flames after hitting a divider beneath the airport.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frowning. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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