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
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
-
The most glaring examples are his bold, brilliant strikes against Venezuela and Iran, militarily brilliant in concept and execution.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For prospective investors, one of the most glaring concerns from Cerebras' original prospectus was its reliance on a single customer based in the Middle East.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Jen remains utterly unmoved, staring impassively as Whitney, who seems truly blindsided, starts to lose her mind a little bit.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Beyond the relatable thought of two of the best golfers in the world staring at their closets, wondering what to put on before a tee time, there’s a lot of earnings potential coming out of Fleetwood’s and Thomas’s situations.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Teenagers do not, as a rule, have to go through a sullen phase.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Belif Aqua Bomb Cooling Eye Gel The Belif Aqua Bomb Cooling Eye Gel is a lightweight, multi-benefit formula that treats puffy, dull, or otherwise sullen-looking skin beneath the eyes.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Or, take the Mr Akpos Dauda room, which is almost something of a library; its white walls are accented with gray and burnt orange details, gas-cylinder bedside lamps, and speckled marble countertops perfect for in-room dining.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
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The app defaults to a dark gray color scheme, though a darker, high-contrast theme and a light one are also available.—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frowning. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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