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
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Video footage recorded by their owner Macie Lamb shows two pups, Ace and Tango growling at a decorative object that resembles a small ceramic dog wearing a ghost costume while holding a pumpkin in its mouth.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Verb
His first task: trying to figure out the source of the bizarre, threatening low growl picked up by the comms system.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
Island of isolation Our cruise, part of the San Francisco CityPASS, pulled out from Pier 33, engines growling, slicing through waters once crossed by gold-seekers and prison ferries.
—Maggie Downs, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Video footage recorded by their owner Macie Lamb shows two pups, Ace and Tango growling at a decorative object that resembles a small ceramic dog wearing a ghost costume while holding a pumpkin in its mouth.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growl
Verb
-
Some Russians already have complained about Max’s functionality (and mocked VK’s semi-cheesy, semi-effective enlistment of rappers, comedians, and influencers to promote it).—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Don’t-complain, just-eat-your-meal type people.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mergers-and-acquisitions activity globally is roaring back to life, with several megadeals in the third quarter building on momentum from earlier this year.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
-
From there, the roaring party becomes a raging nightmare.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But for a 336-pound player to block a kick attempt, recover the ball and rumble 61 yards for a touchdown?—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Lloyd picked off a Patrick Mahomes pass and rumbled the other way for a touchdown that may have been the biggest difference in the contest that had featured multiple game-changing plays.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The result has been a seemingly endless run of East Washington Street roadwork and traffic snarls from Alabama Street downtown to I-465.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
25 Sep. 2025
-
There was talk of traffic snarls and strain on the power grid.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
-
For a company like Tesla, dumping the AM/FM radio to cut costs does not exactly scream innovation.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While there is anecdotal evidence that suggests dogs display addictive-like behaviors towards their toys, such as whining if a toy is out of reach or playing despite being injured, this study put it to the test.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Many of the people opining and whining about how this moment could be as bad or worse than the 2000 bust are uninformed or ahistorical.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growl. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share