as in guttural
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1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he was growling about how much work he had to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in roaring
to make a long loud deep noise or cry
the neighbor's dog growls every time we pass the house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of growling
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
In the clip, the animals tussle on a bed, Moose making playful growling noises as he and Peach play-fight, Moose using his mouth and Peach giving it all with his paws.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Sometimes animatronic and growling, sometimes staring out dead-eyed, classic and static.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2022
Under this gesturing, growling, fiery sprite of a dude, the team is sturdier, more focused, playing harder, playing smarter.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2021
Getty Images / AndreyPopov) Going to bed with a growling stomach isn’t great, either.
—Lindsey Vickers, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2020
But be mindful of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2019
Who can forget the wonder embedded in gifts of ribbon candy, or the crackling fat of the roasted pig that signaled abundance and the passing of years, or the growling hunger of a long winter?
—Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, 25 May 2018
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2012
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Then, while there was still enough light to see them plainly, the two came stalking out of the brush, growling and muttering.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Customers miss the growling revving of gas vehicles with noisy internal combustion engines, the CEO noted.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Expect the never-ending guitar solos and monstrous growling members Phantom Slaughter and Wroth Septentrion are known for—plus one sprawling, 14-minute track featuring Marty Friedman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Upon entering the foyer, I was greeted by a growling animatronic Chewbacca, playfully adorned with a Christmas hat for the holiday season.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
As Dumars and Byrne, Damon and Affleck are reduced to growling law-enforcement speak, barking into walkie-talkies and carrying out every conversation while at least one hand rests on an automatic weapon—just in case someone bursts through the wall.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Stephen gets all purple-faced and mad, growling that he should have been consulted!
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Any growling or negative reactions shouldn’t be punished, as the dog is just showing their unhappiness.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
In the clip, the animals tussle on a bed, Moose making playful growling noises as he and Peach play-fight, Moose using his mouth and Peach giving it all with his paws.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Sometimes animatronic and growling, sometimes staring out dead-eyed, classic and static.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2022
Under this gesturing, growling, fiery sprite of a dude, the team is sturdier, more focused, playing harder, playing smarter.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2021
Getty Images / AndreyPopov) Going to bed with a growling stomach isn’t great, either.
—Lindsey Vickers, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2020
But be mindful of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2019
Who can forget the wonder embedded in gifts of ribbon candy, or the crackling fat of the roasted pig that signaled abundance and the passing of years, or the growling hunger of a long winter?
—Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, 25 May 2018
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2012
Verb
But the innocent visit turns ugly when Alice keeps growling at a wall.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Then, while there was still enough light to see them plainly, the two came stalking out of the brush, growling and muttering.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Customers miss the growling revving of gas vehicles with noisy internal combustion engines, the CEO noted.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Expect the never-ending guitar solos and monstrous growling members Phantom Slaughter and Wroth Septentrion are known for—plus one sprawling, 14-minute track featuring Marty Friedman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Upon entering the foyer, I was greeted by a growling animatronic Chewbacca, playfully adorned with a Christmas hat for the holiday season.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
As Dumars and Byrne, Damon and Affleck are reduced to growling law-enforcement speak, barking into walkie-talkies and carrying out every conversation while at least one hand rests on an automatic weapon—just in case someone bursts through the wall.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Stephen gets all purple-faced and mad, growling that he should have been consulted!
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Adjective
-
Once Ida is revived, Buckley is rife with tics and guttural asides, switching between rat-a-tat mobster slang and Shelley’s flowery English prose like some postmodern literary Gollum.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The scene ends with Lindo breaking into a guttural humming and drumming, expressing pain that transcends words.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Police were called to Access Self Storage at 7000 Southwest 22nd Court on March 1 after an employee reported hearing a man inside a unit screaming and asking for medical attention, according to the report.—
David Goodhue
March 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
During cross-examination of Kaley in February, a Meta lawyer played footage of her mother screaming at her that the teen had posted to social media, and displayed Kaley’s lower-case Instagram story rants about her home life.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
While Israelis enjoyed a brief respite late last year following the Gaza ceasefire, the air-raid sirens have come roaring back.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And through the windshield from a rumbling truck seat or standing on the sidewalk of a near empty street, the grandeur of dawn that is daily missed from bed or the kitchen table, was laid out as an almost personal gift to be experienced by me alone.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Two days later, a manager dormant since 2023 was rumbling again.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His own voice sounds hoarse and nasty to him, the voice of a gloomy oracle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Her voice was hoarse, her schedule packed.—
Karen Brooks Harper
Austin Bureau,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What was once a vibrant part of the downtown has largely been abandoned by shoppers, and businesses are complaining about the lack of parking.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
On the hottest of hot Disney theme park days, a portable fan can be a great way to cool off and minimize complaining from the littlest members of your group.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And, seriously, what was up with that growly Batman voice?—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And Davis’s integrity puts him at odds with his longtime fence, Money (Nick Nolte, nice and growly as ever), who responds by enlisting the services of Ormon (Barry Keoghan), a platinum-blond thug on a motorcycle.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Somewhere in the next hour after the field is announced, there will be contemplation and whining about the specter of the NCAA growing its postseason field, most likely to 76 teams.—
Mac Engel
March 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This includes everything from saying thank you and being kind to not whining.—
Barrie Gillies,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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