hoots 1 of 2

noun

plural of hoot
1
as in shouts
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 snorts
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
as in damns
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 screams
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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hoots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hoot
1
as in howls

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2
as in jeers

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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 hoots
Noun
With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026 Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short. — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026 Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026 Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 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 There are hoots and hollers from raucous tourists on Bourbon Street, for example. — Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 There are a few hoots and hollers as the others agree or protest. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025 All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers. — James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoots
  1. shouts
  2. snorts
  3. licks
  4. screams
  5. howls
  6. insults
  7. cries
  8. boos
Noun
  • Clive and Roosevelt at last heard the shouts of the others and the wild baying cry of the lead dogs, unable to bring the bear to a full bay but easily able now to keep it in sight.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His earlier display of emotion made the song’s meaning hit even harder — and as the crowd erupted into jumps and shouts of glee, Smith stood there, a grin growing on his lipsticked mouth.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of shouts
Noun
  • 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 snorts
Noun
  • Opening with the title track, feedback-heavy licks set the temperature as Dillom catches us up on the escapades of recent years.
    — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Their eponymous debut features some tasty licks and haunting solos and should be an immediate listen for any fans of the genre.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of licks
Noun
  • According to police records, a father dropping off two of his children for daycare heard screams coming from the basement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • At that point, say many Toluca Lake residents, the screams became untenable.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • At night, the coyote howls echo through the development keeping residents awake.
    — N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This is the sort of pure 1980s batshit monologue that prompts both oh-my-Lord gasps and howls of laughter, and Neill nails the whole thing.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026
Definition of howls
Verb
  • That's what happens when your star insults moviegoers or goes off on tangents about the characters's sexuality.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Ohm quickly insults nearly every employee at this small hotel within moments of meeting them, except for the young, pretty bartender, Fiona (Florence Ordesh).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of insults
Noun
  • That kind of front-loading also gives parents a buffer if a child freezes up, cries or needs an extra hug before heading out.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of cries
Noun
  • One resident urged the board not to reject the proposal outright but rather to create standards for data centers before taking a vote — an opinion that elicited boos from the crowd.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Most mentions of Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz drew boos, and mentions of Larkin, Manley and Nixon drew cheers.
    — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of boos

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Cite this Entry

“Hoots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoots. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of hoots for Spanish Speakers

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