hoot 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hootnext
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

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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

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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

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4
as in scream
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hoot

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shout

Related Words
2
as in to insult

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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 hoot
Noun
Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations reverberate from a sanctuary in the hot, dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles. — Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 Baez is Paloma Blanca, and to see her in this role is a hoot. — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
The speakers do break down a bit at the absolute extremes of their bass and treble support, succumbing to slight crackling and hooting with extended heavy bass drops and marginally distorting the very brightest treble sounds. — John Archer, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2026 House the La Vista Baby hooted at Don’t Ate the Player, Ate The Game and Waulesi Asadye. — Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
  1. shout
  2. snort
  3. damn
  4. scream
  5. holler
  6. insult
  7. howl
  8. sneer
Noun
  • They are greeted by shouts of the lucky ARMY members on hand to witness the warm-up, as the men take their turns on the mic before heading to the green room to chill.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • First of all, a special shout out should go to whomever came up with the Coastal Carolina branded Game Boy Color.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of shout
Noun
  • The class had been quiet after the camp text, but now there was at least one snort.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 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
Definition of snort
Noun
  • Trump is not a successful deal maker, because no deal Trump makes is worth a damn.
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And if that is to be the case, most Chicagoans do not give a damn whether the team goes to Arlington Heights or Hammond.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
Definition of damn
Noun
  • The Boston Blue star literally leaned into the moment, laying his head on Osmond’s shoulder as the two men smiled and soaked up the rapturous screams from the audience.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The band’s hard edges come from a collision of metal and punk, reggae and hardcore, and melody with throat-ripping screams.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Families climbed to their rooftops and hollered for rescuers.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps even more notable was his volume at prospect camp practice on Friday, hooting and hollering and firing up his teammates.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of holler
Verb
  • The league suspended Greenlaw, determining his aggressive post-game behavior violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which strictly prohibits the use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures toward game officials.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Jewish critics accused Mamdani of insulting victims and fueling antisemitism, while pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a Manhattan vigil to denounce him for not doing enough to hold Israel accountable.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • The second slide was a video (without sound) of the couple’s first kiss, which King prefaced with what looked like a howl of joy, followed by a series of passionate kisses and an arms-in-the-air yelp from the groom.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026
  • With every whimper, sigh, howl, bark and head tilt, these dogs create an empathetic portrayal of a highly intelligent creature that has been through battle and has the scars (and nightmares) to prove it.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of howl
Noun
  • Monica Bellucci’s sneer is a thing of wonder, so why have so few directors used it properly?
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The film’s sincerity — the quality critics praised most — was met with a sneer rather than a response.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of sneer

Browse Nearby Words

hoosegows
hoot
hooted
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Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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