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
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
Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Two weeks ago, the president’s social-media growling about higher China tariffs exposed a node of complacency among investors, who as a group had turned their focus away from the trade-policy flux.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
Without much context, there’s an animal that appears to be a wolf growling in the darkness.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
Some hissing or growling is normal, but separate them if aggression escalates.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
This mobile bar crisscrosses the room’s checkerboard floor with the growling rumble of a subway train.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
The Mariners took both games started by Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ growling ace who lost twice to Seattle in the regular season, too.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The hunter was horrified, knowing that growling a challenge was exactly the wrong thing to do.
—Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
In an hour’s span, three trucks leaving the construction site silenced the conversation, growling loudly down Rockland Drive.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Two weeks ago, the president’s social-media growling about higher China tariffs exposed a node of complacency among investors, who as a group had turned their focus away from the trade-policy flux.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
Without much context, there’s an animal that appears to be a wolf growling in the darkness.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
Some hissing or growling is normal, but separate them if aggression escalates.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
This mobile bar crisscrosses the room’s checkerboard floor with the growling rumble of a subway train.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025
The Mariners took both games started by Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ growling ace who lost twice to Seattle in the regular season, too.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The hunter was horrified, knowing that growling a challenge was exactly the wrong thing to do.
—Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Adjective
-
The White House Historical Association says that Jackson, supposedly lying in his bed in the Rose Room, lets out a guttural laugh that has been heard in the White House since the 1860s.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Imagine a city street at dusk, silent save for the rising sound of a collective guttural moan.—
Tom Duszynski,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Mummy, Stephen Sommers’ rip-roaring reboot of the 1932 Boris Karloff classic, turned star Brendan Fraser into an action hero upon its release in 1999.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Nov. 2025
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Dillard’s and Macy’s modest comparable sales growth of about 1% last quarter is hardly the mark of a roaring retail renaissance.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The boats hit the Gulf of Mexico before dawn, engines rumbling out diesel smoke while dead-eyed gulls clear their throats and wait to feast on the fishermen’s leftovers.—
Dan Morrison,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Thousands stomped in the bleachers, creating rumbling waves of adoration.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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When a reporter reached her by phone a week later, her voice sounded hoarse.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Give Palestine your voice, and when your voice goes hoarse, hang your flags, wear your keffiyeh.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Frederica Wilson, a Democratic congresswoman from South Florida, vividly remembers her constituents complaining about one Facebook ad in particular.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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About 20% of fire department employees responded to the survey, with large majorities of those respondents complaining about discrimination, diversity and inclusion programs and a wide range of organizational issues.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Neeson’s a growly delight, while Huston steals most of his scenes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
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There’s even a ragged guitar solo and some growly vocals that reveal Rivers Cuomo’s heavy-metal roots.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
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Marcus poked out his bottom lip, but no whining this time.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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