1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he was growling about how much work he had to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to roar
to make a long loud deep noise or cry
the neighbor's dog growls every time we pass the house
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 growl
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Griffith growls Griffith could be in position to win its first Greater South Shore Conference title since 2018.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
James Raia, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
There was no growl, no warning bark.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for growl
Verb
Mira growled into her watch, excitedly.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Griffith growls Griffith could be in position to win its first Greater South Shore Conference title since 2018.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Noun
Acceleration is also accomplished with a throaty growl.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
There was no growl, no warning bark.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for growl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growl
Verb
-
Meanwhile, a parent of an underage Vibe customer also complained to authorities that his 17-year-old son and his son's friend were able to purchase kratom products with a fake ID and, at times, without an ID at all.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Residents near the Plaskolite site have long complained about odors from the plant, according to an air monitoring study sponsored by the state.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Just beyond the front desk, a fire roars behind a massive stone hearth, and a live piano plays in the heart of the resort, the lobby lounge (dubbed the Living Room), a choice spot for lunch, casual meetings, or pre-dinner drinks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
But violence has since roared back, in part because armed groups have taken advantage of peace negotiations with Petro’s government to make territorial gains.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Humming cooling systems, rumbling diesel generators and whirring fans can be heard continuously hundreds of feet around them, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, prompting reports from residents of headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
The frenetic electronics of Nineties dance music have rumbled beneath the surface of indie rock and pop for some time now.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Drivers should brace for traffic snarls this summer when South Elgin’s State Street bridge over the Fox River is reduced to one lane for road resurfacing work.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Travel industry leaders and major airlines warn the proposal would devastate tourism, choke international cargo and create massive operational snarls.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Jay practically embarrassed Mase, then a pop rapper at Bad Boy Records, not by screaming but by sounding amused.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
These plays all scratch the same exact itch of, say, watching Bachelorette hunks get hooked up to a lie detector or watching Mike White whine about the lack of fine cuisine on Survivor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
And how about the Liberty players and coaches whining about it?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Growl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growl. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
