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
The howls of outrage from an undisclosed location in Europe reached our shores. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026 As a message, Prima Facie is still a howl of rage and a plea for change. — Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2026
Verb
The living room and bedrooms faced 96th, a crosstown corridor over which ambulances and police cars sped day and night, their sirens howling. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 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 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
  • The separation scene is gut wrenching as Akiko fails to understand why she is being abandoned and gives one wail of a goodbye scene.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Had likely started calling hospitals, shouting his name and description over the baby’s guttering wails, into the ears of phone operators and receptionists all over town.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of wail
Noun
  • In Cornwall, some communities gather in local pubs for a traditional Cornish ‘shout’, joining together to sing folk songs and sea shanties.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Her speech deteriorated into shouts and hums and eventually almost disappeared.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shout
Noun
  • As the verdict came down, ending what had been seen as one of South America’s most stable presidencies, a roar rose from the crowd packed into the plaza outside Congress.
    — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Echoes from the excited roar still rumbled through the arena.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of roar
Verb
  • Upon arriving at Bottiglierivega's door, a police sergeant heard screaming and spotted blood nearby.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrived at the scene and found people screaming as a man was lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Twenty minutes later my bleep shrieked at me from my lapel, and I was given my very first job as a junior doctor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
  • When the humor shifted abruptly from shrieking and pratfalls to more subtle witticism, the audience was fine with that as long as things stayed light, funny and uncomplicated.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of shriek
Noun
  • And distinctly, the midterm turnout wasn’t a cry from voters to stop the buildout, but simply to put a new price tag on it, and OpenAI is the first major AI company to agree to pay it since the votes were counted.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Fear factor Netanyahu and his allies made the large Arab turnout a rallying cry.
    — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of cry
Noun
  • Beyond its own career, Television became a key inspiration for Sonic Youth and Geese, which shared Television’s downtown panache and coils of guitar noise.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • In my experience, degraded fluid can sometimes cause clutch chatter, vibration, or a humming noise.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of noise
Verb
  • After repeatedly yelling out during the meeting, one man was escorted to the exit by police.
    — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Demonstrators banging on drums, yelling, and making siren sounds with an electronic bullhorn could be heard within the boardroom.
    — Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of yell

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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 11 Nov. 2026.

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