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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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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
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The big question is whether people who pay hundreds of thousands of euros for growling gas-guzzlers will also shell out for electric versions.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Or any of the Republican gym bros peddling supplements online and growling lifestyle advice into webcams.
—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
At that point, your stomach has probably been growling for a good hour, so answer that call with some tacos at Taqueria Rosita.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.
—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
But the innocent visit turns ugly when Alice keeps growling at a wall.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Customers miss the growling revving of gas vehicles with noisy internal combustion engines, the CEO noted.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 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
Could the growling creature be responsible for the gouges by Zampanò’s dead body?
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The big question is whether people who pay hundreds of thousands of euros for growling gas-guzzlers will also shell out for electric versions.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Or any of the Republican gym bros peddling supplements online and growling lifestyle advice into webcams.
—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
At that point, your stomach has probably been growling for a good hour, so answer that call with some tacos at Taqueria Rosita.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.
—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
But the innocent visit turns ugly when Alice keeps growling at a wall.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Customers miss the growling revving of gas vehicles with noisy internal combustion engines, the CEO noted.
—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Adjective
-
At a landing site called Eolusneset, another walrus haulout on a rocky beach provided us the opportunity to get up close and personal (well, just 150 meters away) with the creatures, which was close enough to hear their guttural bellows.
-
The shirtless man next to him, like tens of thousands throughout São Januário stadium, unleashed a guttural roar.
Verb
-
An open 911 line allowed dispatchers to hear gunshots and people screaming inside the building.
-
But doing grand openings and screaming out loud doesn't resonate with the brand.
Verb
-
The equalizer was exactly what Ecuador’s fans needed to get loud, roaring with joy after Germany's early lead was cut.
-
In April, Allen Gallaway’s home in Andover, Kansas, was one block away from getting ripped up by a tornado roaring like a freight train.
Verb
-
Early on, Jonah couldn't be indoors during rumbling Florida thunderstorms because the noise reminded Jonah of the collapse, so father and son would take long drives until the storm subsided.
-
Bored Lord and AceMo, longtime bastions of their respective coastal scenes, offer up two rumbling club heaters.
Adjective
-
Others walked home sunburned, hoarse and still dressed in blue and orange.
-
During the debate, Joe Biden frequently lost his train of thought, stumbled over answers, and appeared hoarse, fueling concerns among voters and party leaders.
Verb
-
At one practice during the fall of 2024, Washington’s assistant athletic director of football academics Diamond Brown was standing on the sideline when Jonah bounded up to her in full pads and begun complaining about his grade in a music class.
-
Indeed, the internet is full of workers complaining about how their jobs have become akin to manning an assembly line.
Adjective
-
And, seriously, what was up with that growly Batman voice?
-
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.
Verb
-
Stop whining and complaining, people.
-
Well, certainly a lot of whining about technology.
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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