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
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
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Noun
The volume and speed of your hoot are also important.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
An out of shape owl emerged, followed by jealous girlfriend owl and the ADHD-riddled owl, who is far too distracted to hoot.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
-
Hartzman also gave Cactus Club a shout out from the Turner Hall stage.—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The prologue that opens Ragtime loudly announces the musical’s epic ambitions as its nine fictional characters and six of its historical figures introduce themselves with third-person narration and shout-singing.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 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
-
What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
My parents have no idea what’s happening because legacy media is not reporting on anything worth a damn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kinsella was excited for Yates’ voice to be an easter egg—one of many voices to be deciphered by fans among a scream-singing chorus.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Another video, filmed inside the bus and shared on TikTok, captured the terrified screams of students who were riding the bus at the time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The families hollered in celebration and got an extra moment for photos once the popemobile stopped so Leo could bless a couple of babies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
His appearance was a surprise even to his colleagues, who stood up and applauded enthusiastically as the audience whooped and hollered.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And Cora is so good at threading needles on these issues, as in communicating his wishes without insulting this or that player.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Saariaho never once loses control of momentum and never insults her own tastefulness.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
