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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in guttural
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of growling
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2012
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
Be wary of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 6 July 2018
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
Verb
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
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2012
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
Be wary of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 6 July 2018
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Verb
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Topline Losses from a pair of big-name companies, Apple and Tesla, headlined a broader slip in the stock market Thursday, a rocky start to the year’s first trading session after 2023 and 2024’s roaring bull market.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes,
2 Jan. 2025
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The audience went wild, roaring with laughter and applause.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Porsche, while more refined, is also a real treat to plop down into, hear the guttural anger of its 4.0 across the entire rev band, and generally enjoy in any scenario.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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The goal inspired an unleashing, a guttural cry into the blackness overhead from the sea of red and green behind Belgium’s goal.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Verb
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The irony of the quintessential real estate expert buying a home in the flight path of an international airport, then complaining about the noise, is not lost on the rest of Palm Beach County.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The Buccaneers started complaining to the officials about fouls.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
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Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
Verb
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The whining about everyone else didn’t help, either.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2024
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Stop whining and thank your lucky stars for having a job.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Neeson’s a growly delight, while Huston steals most of his scenes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
-
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
Adjective
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The exception may be the size of the potato gnocchi, husky rectangles of creamy potato dumplings in a lemon butter sauce, circling jumbo lump crab morsels dappled with chives.—
Beth D'Addono,
Southern Living,
4 Aug. 2025
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Hank’s son Bobby is no longer a husky middle-schooler, but a 21-year-old running his own Japanese-German fusion restaurant in Dallas, for instance.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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This is why Dijon’s language works best as sound, not narrative—his rangy, raspy voice seethes and triumphs, mocks and threatens; there’s no world in which his polygonal perspective can be discerned from a lyric sheet.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
16 Aug. 2025
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Khamenei’s public absence throughout the conflict and his raspy speech in its aftermath have prompted speculation about his health and the theocracy’s continuity of leadership.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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