hoot 1 of 2

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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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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3
4
as in scream
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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hoot

2 of 2

verb

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
Why else show nubby fleece trousers with a coordinating striped jacket, which nobody needs but would be a hoot to wear? Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026 Cowboy and cowgirl hoots and hollers complement the rumbling of the massive animals’ hooves as they’re rounded up into the corrals. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Verb
Literally people went crazy, hooting and hollering. Philip Elliott, Time, 24 Nov. 2025 Players shoot up out of their chairs, hooting and hollering. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
  • Brownell also gives a special shout out to Baduza, who improvised the moment during the celebration where Michaela teaches everyone how to perform the stag dance.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Several shouts were audible during the first part of the ceremony, although what was said wasn’t intelligible to an Associated Press reporter in the press room.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 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
  • 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
  • With Pres as the DJ, Gabe rips through damn-near all of Sortilège like a pro.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Disgraced here but once great, the beloved scream queen comes back to her franchise by way of a new small town called Pine Grove.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Final exams for the winter quarter are about to get underway at UC San Diego, a period so stressful students get together and let out a collective scream to cope with it all.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • My husband heard the commotion and hollered at me for yelling at his sister.
    Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Dropkin, of Massachusetts, and Thiesse, of Minnesota, whooped and hollered after edging the hosts, hugging tightly.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The way the women proceed to talk about their dating lives, however, continues to insult the experiences of the viewers.
    Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Trump would be foolish to insult the justices.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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