frowning 1 of 2

adjective

as in scowling

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frowning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of frown
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frowning
Adjective
Balogun then looked over at a frowning Ream, who had just finished urging his teammates to be sure to stop and smell the flowers along this World Cup journey. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
Looking on was Trooper Major, body camera footage shows, frowning in the sun as the deputies followed guidance from a portable defibrillator device. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime. — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 Woods, 50, is seen frowning in the photo, taken shortly after the legendary golfer was booked into jail on March 27 after his Land Rover rolled over in Jupiter Island, Florida. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 Hubbard posted an image of herself with a disgusted look on her face from earlier in Season 10, while Dillard shared a photo of himself frowning, also from a scene in the show. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026 Subscribers and consumer advocates may be frowning on Netflix’s latest price hikes, but Wall Street is celebrating the move. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026 Many of the drawings show faces, and most of the faces are frowning. — Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 26 Feb. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frowning
  1. scowling
  2. glaring
  3. sullen
  4. staring
  5. gray
Adjective
  • The video, which has garnered over 70,000 views as of Wednesday, opens with a scowling Donalds, sitting behind the governor’s desk one year into his hypothetical first term.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Definition of scowling
Verb
  • But the data gap was particularly glaring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, potentially missing 75% of the population, according to a recent paper co-authored by CDC statisticians.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Tensions over the Middle East Another glaring issue the two leaders could discuss is the widening conflict in the Middle East.
    — Mariam Khan, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glaring
Adjective
  • Shortly after the invasion of London begins, the capital is under rebel control, so what is this previously quiet and sullen teenage King to do?
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The couple hires Caleb as a lookout and braves his sullen outbursts, learning more about the lonely, angry youth as the murders draw nearer.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of sullen
Verb
  • Before a first-down play from the Cleveland 20-yard line, Rodgers could be seen staring at the Pittsburgh sideline with his arms spread out, apparently waiting to receive the play from McCarthy.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • More of the same people staring at the same problem in the same room.
    — Duncan Wardle, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of staring
Adjective
  • According to a preliminary investigation, the crash happened as a gray Toyota Camry sped south on Prospect.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In Proserpina, eleven vertical yellow wooden rods, enrobed in layers of gray and maroon wire netting, increase in length around a wire-mesh spiral that reaches three feet at its tallest point.
    — Nicole Rudick, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of gray

Browse Nearby Words

frowned (on or upon)
frowning
frowning (at or on)
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Cite this Entry

“Frowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frowning. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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