growls 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of growl
1
as in complains
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 roars
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
3
as in rumbles
to make a low heavy rolling sound I'm sorry my stomach is growling, but I'm just really hungry

Synonyms & Similar Words

growls

2 of 2

noun

plural of growl
as in snarls

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of growls
Verb
Griffith growls Griffith could be in position to win its first Greater South Shore Conference title since 2018. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 China holds Tibet without noticeable bother, commits crimes against its Uyghur Muslim minority with impunity, launches acts of aggression against its neighbors in the South China Sea, and growls off any court or tribunal that looks askance—which few do. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 And as the person behind the camera approaches the pit bull, the dog growls and barks while standing in a fearful crouch. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 Sturridge crows and growls his lines, rolling his torso and crouching to crawl on his knuckles like a young silverback. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025 They are known to work in teams when hunting, and communicate with chirps, growls, whistles and body language. — Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 Go grab your passport, a wad of bail money, and enough thirst for wine that growls at history and food that tastes like the ocean punched you in the mouth. — John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growls
  1. complains
  2. roars
  3. rumbles
  4. snarls
  5. screams
  6. whines
  7. moans
  8. mutters
Verb
  • The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Prescribing Tylenol to a patient who continually complains of back pain will not necessarily solve what ails them.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of complains
Verb
  • The sight of the lone rider desperately trying to hold on as the crowd roars them towards the line is magical, despite such brave attempts rarely being successful.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But they were outnumbered three or four to one by Argentina fans, who drowned them out with long flat roars whenever their team repelled a Spanish shot, or bundled a player off the pitch.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of roars
Verb
  • The engine rumbles between your legs, the road streams beneath you, the curves beckon you onward.
    — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • As thunder rumbles over Mpophomeni, and the first drops of rain fall, children at the training field pull on hoodies and start to walk home, their dogs trotting faithfully alongside them.
    — Patricia Huon, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026
Definition of rumbles
Noun
  • The wildly popular Instagram page was offline for a hot minute, leaving the general pop pining for videos on the myriad zany happenings in our city, from traffic snarls and celebrity shenanigans to animal encounters and fights outside the club.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • The state Department of Transportation is scheduled to install temporary three-way stop signs at the intersections during a road project that’s already created mind-numbing traffic snarls and angry and confused drivers.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Definition of snarls
Verb
  • Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Graham and some of this congregation brought ice cream to their staffs — teenagers mostly, some of whom likely worked the weekend shift and heard the shots and screams next door.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • Jessie whines about the good old days all the time — how fun is that?
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of moans
Verb
  • Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.
    — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of mutters

Browse Nearby Words

growling
growls
growly
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Cite this Entry

“Growls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growls. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of growls for Spanish Speakers

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