hoots 1 of 2

plural of hoot
1
as in howls
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
4

hoots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hoot

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
Verb
The town hall crowd received my comments with strong clapping and appreciative hoots and hollers. Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoots
Noun
  • Davidson interrupted frequently by shouts from the crowd The event began with a prayer, led by an Edgewood High School senior, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
    Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2025
  • It had been moved to the Moraine to hold the large crowd, and Chair Karen Moore gaveled several times to quiet applause, jeers and a few shouts.
    Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • When the screams faded away, Monica Santana and Maria Lema, who had driven down from Waukegan to scream, peeled off.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Amid screams and the sound of bullets, she is killed.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The screams, the reason everyone assembles, when the screams come, after a few collective inhales and exhales and a moment to gather one’s thoughts, the screams come like long guttural howls.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • However, her cries and pleas only led to Tate hitting her harder.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
  • If the cries to help the common fan were relatively silent then, what’s the truly new and pressing need for them today?
    John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hopefully that was worth it — because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took his fair share of licks in the process.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Oftentimes, the bites are followed by licks.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While the pants were a loss, the post provided plenty of laughs for the internet, and some great advice for the next time a day at the zoo goes wrong.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
  • However, if you're pressed for time, check out the shorts Mike's New Car (2001) and Party Central (2014) for some quick laughs.
    Sydni Ellis, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This included early American music forms, marches, spirituals, field hollers, work songs and African rhythms, as well as their musical descendants, like jazz, blues, gospel, country and rock ‘n’ roll.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Lots of noise, big splashes, a few congratulatory whoops and hollers.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • In the case of Governor Pritzker insults his body, body shamed him.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
  • No matter how many times Putin insults the president and ignores his calls for a total ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump returns for more humiliation.
    Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hoots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoots. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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