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
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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
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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
Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Ken Johnson, the homeowner, said Monday that the bear has been growling and hissing, terrifying him and his cat.
—Nbc Los Angeles, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025
Unflappable, Xhaka has the aura of one who has slipped into comfy slippers and a favourite armchair, at home in the growling adversity faced by a club for whom survival remains the overriding goal.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Elphaba also delivers that growling line at the Wizard, telling him to run.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
The bear stood on one rock, growling and snarling at the baying hounds below.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
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
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
How Popcorn Affects Your Stomach When your stomach starts growling between meals, popcorn might be just the thing to alleviate those annoying hunger pangs.
—Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Ken Johnson, the homeowner, said Monday that the bear has been growling and hissing, terrifying him and his cat.
—Nbc Los Angeles, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025
Unflappable, Xhaka has the aura of one who has slipped into comfy slippers and a favourite armchair, at home in the growling adversity faced by a club for whom survival remains the overriding goal.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
Elphaba also delivers that growling line at the Wizard, telling him to run.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
The bear stood on one rock, growling and snarling at the baying hounds below.
—John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Adjective
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Instead, the cast spoke in guttural sounds that were accompanied by subtitles.—
Gregg Kilday,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Nov. 2025
-
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
Verb
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According to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched in November to a residence in the Linville community of Marion after a caller reported a neighbor standing in their driveway screaming and refusing to leave the property despite having been warned previously.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Avid viewers of The Studio will appreciate the callback to a watershed episode this season when Ice Cube, as himself, uttered the same to a room filled with screaming fans, causing a fresh headache for Seth Rogen’s backlot boss Matt Remick.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While no report was available for October because of the federal government shutdown, the November data from the TWC suggests that ― after roaring for years ― Texas’ economic growth has slowed.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a rematch of one of the season's most thrilling games back in Week 16, the Seahawks, behind a roaring crowd at Lumen Field, make the defensive play at the end to win it.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
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Our different skin shades and our proximity on a rumbling train car was also very New York.—
Sam Lipsyte,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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November 17, 2025 What To Know During an Oval Office meeting focused primarily on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump sounded hoarse when speaking with reporters and officials.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Nov. 2025
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Savanna Branham was in sixth grade when her voice became hoarse and would not improve She was diagnosed with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, which causes recurring tumors to grow on the vocal cords.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But the same town also was sued in November by Stillson LLC, a company complaining because zoners approved an 8-30g project.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
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From bartenders in Virginia-Highland to servers in Alpharetta, several employees of food and drink businesses reported customers complaining about water that tastes like mildew.—
Sheeka Sanahori - For the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Illinois Republicans have turned whining into an artform.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
First came Notre Dame whining over missing out on a College Football Playoff invite.—
Greg Cote
December 14,
Miami Herald,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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