howl 1 of 2

noun

Definition of howlnext
1
as in wail
a crying out in grief we had to endure the puppy's mournful howls on her first night in our house

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2
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics

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3
as in roar
a violent shouting the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call

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howl

2 of 2

verb

ˈhau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce howl (audio)
1
as in to scream
to make a long loud mournful sound several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down the wind howled on the open plain

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2
as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

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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 howl
Noun
As a message, Prima Facie is still a howl of rage and a plea for change. — Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2026 The Slingshot surges forward as the tach swings toward redline, the exhaust emitting a guttural howl. — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
At the Irish Rep, director Ciarán O’Reilly has brought O’Neill’s expressionist howl back for a swift, sturdy, smaller-scale revival that now feels unnervingly on-the-pulse. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 The masked figure then loops back, and a howling Wood appears in the frame. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for howl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howl
  1. wail
  2. shout
  3. roar
  4. scream
  5. shriek
  6. cry
  7. noise
  8. yell
Noun
  • When the sun goes down, the wind picks up in central New Mexico, whipping through arid canyons with a ghostly howl that for centuries, locals have likened to the wails of the folkloric ghost La Llorona.
    — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Feverish with feeling, the women scream, wail and sob, each one experiencing her misery multiply in real time as the remaining two look on in disdain.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of wail
Noun
  • The shouts of rejection came in part because there was a plausible scenario under which James would have opened the season at Madison Square Garden in a Knicks uniform.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • No day in Gaza is normal, but Friday stood out for its shouts of delight as athletes pulled trucks, flipped massive tires and heaved weights in a strength competition that drew cheering crowds.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shout
Noun
  • The highlight of the play during a montage that was shown on the overhead videoboard set off some of the loudest roars of the night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The Gators’ front let out its strongest roar in the fourth quarter with a fourth-and-1 stop that led to a rushing touchdown by Baugh, cementing a 27-17 lead.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of roar
Verb
  • A little girl pounding her fists and screaming; none of the visitors nor the staff were allowed to hold her to provide comfort.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Rays third baseman Junior Caminero screamed in the dugout after Milwaukee had rallied to tie the game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Children crowded the play areas, despite the damp, gray weather, shrieking with joy (and in one instance, crying).
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • This power plant is Mercedes-AMG’s new-generation M177 EVO, enhanced and enlivened by a flat-plane crankshaft, a feature normally associated with shrieking supercar engines.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of shriek
Noun
  • As much an acknowledgment of survival as a rallying cry, the song draws out sadness as well as satisfaction from the audience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Her friend’s cries mixed with the sound of police car sirens before officers arrived and escorted students and staff out the building.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of cry
Noun
  • But the only picture mode that comes close to being that bright also has a notably green bias and ramps up the fan noise to a level that almost anyone will consider intolerable.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Communities are fighting data centers over spiking electric bills, soaring electricity and water demand, noise, land use and taxpayer subsidies.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of noise
Verb
  • Moshier remembers when the team stopped at a fast-food restaurant on a road trip and Murphy yelled for everyone to get back to the bus.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Hill yelled at Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson after Wilson was accidentally knocked into him during Minnesota's game against Miami.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of yell

Browse Nearby Words

however
howl
howled
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Cite this Entry

“Howl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howl. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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