1
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort to the lawyer's arrogant remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval
he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking until he'd had his say
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't give a hoot whether you want to go or not—you're going
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoot
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 3 Dec. 2025
Okonma makes a sparky acting debut, as does O’Leary of Shark Tank fame, playing, well, a shark who responds badly to defiance, and Isaac Mizrahi is a hoot as the publicist on Kay’s show.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
The room had cinderblock walls, a concrete slab floor and two rows of about 10 cages that were raised about waist high, each containing a chimpanzee in a near-frenzied state, hooting and shaking his or her metal enclosure.
—Ron Arias, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Noun
Have no fear, because this feature will be the hoot of every group chat.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 3 Dec. 2025
Okonma makes a sparky acting debut, as does O’Leary of Shark Tank fame, playing, well, a shark who responds badly to defiance, and Isaac Mizrahi is a hoot as the publicist on Kay’s show.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Verb
The audience was encouraged to hoot and holler as points were scored through the back-and-forth arguments.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
The room had cinderblock walls, a concrete slab floor and two rows of about 10 cages that were raised about waist high, each containing a chimpanzee in a near-frenzied state, hooting and shaking his or her metal enclosure.
—Ron Arias, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
-
Robbins heard a shout from one of his deputies, who directed the others’ attention down a slope about ten yards from the plateau.—
Scott Eden,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
-
That the trio’s affection often expresses itself in frustrated shouts, sighed exasperation or muted defeat, has become part of the bargain for 38-year-old Anna, who takes care of and is cared for by her parents (Victor Slezak as Dad and Marceline Hugot as Mom).—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
With Pres as the DJ, Gabe rips through damn-near all of Sortilège like a pro.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But does anyone worth a damn really want to go to Madison right now?—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Charles’ pack of dogs incessantly barked blood curdling screams.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
From another ward not too far away, the piercing screams of a patient are audible.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The 20-something CEO is said to frequently holler at his employees, and occasionally shows up to company Zoom calls shirtless.—
Joe Wilkins Published Feb 4,
Futurism,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Blackhawks dressing room was a rowdy scene after the game, their hoots and hollers reverberating throughout the bowels of the United Center.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To do so would be rude, politically perilous, insulting to our biggest trade partner and just plain weird.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even if their tastes differ from yours, true friends shouldn’t insult your honest self-expression.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
-
At about two this morning, the familiar howl of air-raid sirens woke me in the center of Kyiv, followed by the low thuds of anti-aircraft cannons attempting to shoot down Russian drones.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
McDonald’s is spreading a little festive sneer this holiday season with the release of a brand-new menu inspired by Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Burnett tried several versions in a row: first deadpan, then with a sneer of sarcasm, pursing her lips in judgment.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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