Synonyms of howl

howl 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wail
• cry
• tears
• groan
• lamentation
• moan
• mourning
• lament
• weeping
• keen
• plaint
• sob
• suffering
• protest
• regret
• outcry
• sorrow
• anguish
• grief
• sorrowing
• grieving
• complaint
• heartbreak
• woe
• heartache
• agonizing
• hand-wringing
• cri de coeur
• dolor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exultation
• rejoicing
• smiling
• laughing
• cheering

2

as in shout

a loud vocal expression of strong emotion

heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shout
• cry
• scream
• shriek
• squeal
• yell
• roar
• holler
• yowl
• whoop
• hoot
• yelp
• screech
• squeak
• shrill
• wail
• outcry
• bellow
• interjection
• clamor
• ejaculation
• squall
• bawl
• caterwaul
• plaint

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• murmur
• mutter
• whisper
• gasp
• mumble
• whimper

3

as in roar

a violent shouting

the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roar
• noise
• outcry
• clamor
• hue and cry
• vociferation
• tumult
• hubbub
• racket
• hullabaloo
• uproar
• din
• protest
• jangle
• outburst
• clangor
• cri de coeur

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rumble
• murmur
• rumbling
• murmuring
• mumble
• mumbling

howl

2 of 2

verb

ˈhau̇(-ə)l 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scream
• shriek
• wail
• yell
• bay
• yowl
• shrill
• squeal
• ululate
• screech
• keen
• yelp
• squall
• caterwaul
• bawl
• yawp

2

as in to shriek

to cry out loudly and emotionally

the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shriek
• scream
• squeal
• yell
• cry
• shrill
• screech
• yelp
• squall
• wail
• shout
• squawk
• yowl
• caterwaul
• bay
• thunder
• holler
• keen
• bawl
• yawp
• vociferate
• call

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whisper
• murmur
• mutter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of howl

Noun

Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026

Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Verb

All Balogun playing did was make the Americans seem like bullies who just lost the fight as everyone else howled laughter. — Miami Herald, 7 July 2026

Hargreaves may not have known about the Chiefs’ Wild Card win over the Dolphins in 2024 when a howling wind made the negative-4 degree temperature feel all the worse. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026