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
Isaias made landfall as a hurricane late Friday on the Florida Panhandle, lashing the Gulf Coast with heavy rains and howling winds that toppled trees, flooded coastal highways and left hundreds of thousands of people without power. — Laura Chung Laura Chung Laura Chung Laura Chung Laura Chung Laura Chung Laura Chung, New York Times, 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
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • Alarmed by the cries, Sita urges Lakshmana to go to Rama’s aid.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • The video, which is blurry from the officer's movement, captures yelling and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by several additional gunshot noises.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The video, which is blurry from the officer’s movement, captures yelling and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by several additional gunshot noises.
    — Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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