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
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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
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Recent Examples of growl
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
One witness tried to give him a life preserver, and another tried to speak with him but received a growl in response, according to the sheriff.
—Alex Sundby
may 26, CBS News, 26 May 2025
Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Sebastian transformed from growling hardcore frontman into a Chris Martin-esque figure.
—Cal Roach, jsonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Verb
Keitel begins the scene with an intimidating growl and ends it in rueful melancholy.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
One witness tried to give him a life preserver, and another tried to speak with him but received a growl in response, according to the sheriff.
—Alex Sundby
may 26, CBS News, 26 May 2025
Noun
Why Future Lab Matters More Than Ever Among the engine growls and cheering crowds, Future Lab is a welcome jolt of reflection.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Sebastian transformed from growling hardcore frontman into a Chris Martin-esque figure.
—Cal Roach, jsonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growl
Verb
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Some residents and candidates have complained that Area Towing often overcharged customers, unaware of the costs when getting their vehicles towed.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Republicans complain about the district’s heavy Democratic lean.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To mark the milestone, after performance No. 3,535, producer Jeffrey Seller invited all of them to the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime curtain call, drawing roaring applause and emotional ovations.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Thanks to his company’s roaring IPO, his net worth has soared to $5 billion.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes, there may be stomach rumbling, caused by rhythmic contractions to clear any residual food from the digestive tract.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
29 July 2025
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East Nash Grass Taking the main stage Friday evening, East Nash Grass rumbled through a rowdy set of high-octane bluegrass numbers.—
Garret K. Woodward,
Rolling Stone,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Beyond the general inconvenience of snarls, skipping out on detangling can compromise both your hair’s health and its styling potential.—
Annie Blackman,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
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Fans lined up by the hundreds in meet-and-greet lines that snaked in snarls around the room.—
Bryan West,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
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There's just a million things available and everything's screaming at you.—
Omaid Homayun,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Noem screams, before spotting a service dog in the crowd and shooting it.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Blue Heeler/Catahoula mix doesn’t just whine and bark.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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The sales exceptions seem to be backlist dystopian fiction and books by and for the fascists, that is, right-wing memoir and culture war whining.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But in peacetime, the nation often retreats into suspicion: frowning on success, moaning about profit, and wrapping ambition in red tape.—
London Business School,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The sound of a heavy machine motor moaned from a tractor evening out the soil covering an oval enclosure, about the size of a football field.—
Jon-Michael Banks,
Kansas City Star,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Police searched for Best and his son Zeke for two days before a group of hunters came across the father naked in the snow alongside a local highway and muttering incoherently with baby Zeke laying dead nearby, PEOPLE reported at the time.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
28 July 2025
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Before immediately snapping, sighing loudly, or muttering a passive-aggressive comment, try pausing to consider what else might be going on first: Maybe your barista’s slammed with 10 other complicated orders, for instance, or your housemate had a brutal week at work.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growl. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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