1
as in screaming
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
Relevance
2
as in shrieking
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in yelling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in crying
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 howling
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Burning telephone poles blocked lanes and black soot swept across the pavement, blown by the howling winds.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
But most ominous of all, at least for me, are the howling winds.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 9 July 2024
Their capabilities range from merely howling threats, to throwing Molotov cocktails, to carrying out suicide operations or blowing up cars, to seizing control of territory—at least for a time.
—Nelly Lahoud, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2021
Sender shifts between stories of love — between lovers, friends, family, ghosts — and the great looming shadow of the Holocaust, making a deep and howling portrait of longing and loneliness.
—Nina McLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2023
Smash the right pedal, and Tecnica lurches forward in a howling, long-winded climb through each of the 7 gears.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 22 July 2022
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
Snow, howling winds expected to have highest impact The weather service said that a cold front would come crashing through the area Tuesday night, and dangerous northwest winds would build behind the front.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025
The roads were jammed and the wind was howling.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Then, the video transitioned to a completely different scene—Cody, wide-awake, barking and howling, pacing around the house, and even chewing household items.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Willow started howling along enthusiastically, and Williams shared the singing act on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, garnering almost 1 million views and over 107,700 likes.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
For now, the sun is down and the monkeys are howling.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
On Sunday afternoon, winds are expected to be howling in New York City.
—Amy Graff, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Some Republicans made direct analogies between the first president and the sixteenth—to the howling disdain of many detractors.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
Get ready for a wild ride in Kansas City as a weather system will send temperatures plummeting and usher in howling winds, rain and maybe some light snow on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
Burning telephone poles blocked lanes and black soot swept across the pavement, blown by the howling winds.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
But most ominous of all, at least for me, are the howling winds.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 9 July 2024
Their capabilities range from merely howling threats, to throwing Molotov cocktails, to carrying out suicide operations or blowing up cars, to seizing control of territory—at least for a time.
—Nelly Lahoud, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2021
Sender shifts between stories of love — between lovers, friends, family, ghosts — and the great looming shadow of the Holocaust, making a deep and howling portrait of longing and loneliness.
—Nina McLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2023
Smash the right pedal, and Tecnica lurches forward in a howling, long-winded climb through each of the 7 gears.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 22 July 2022
Adjective
More than 28,000 customers were without power Wednesday morning as howling winds from a powerful winter storm blew through the Kansas City metro area, utilities reported.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
Snow, howling winds expected to have highest impact The weather service said that a cold front would come crashing through the area Tuesday night, and dangerous northwest winds would build behind the front.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025
The roads were jammed and the wind was howling.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Then, the video transitioned to a completely different scene—Cody, wide-awake, barking and howling, pacing around the house, and even chewing household items.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Willow started howling along enthusiastically, and Williams shared the singing act on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, garnering almost 1 million views and over 107,700 likes.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
For now, the sun is down and the monkeys are howling.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
On Sunday afternoon, winds are expected to be howling in New York City.
—Amy Graff, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Some Republicans made direct analogies between the first president and the sixteenth—to the howling disdain of many detractors.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 12 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howling
Adjective
-
Miller, who represents Ohio's 7th District, is a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and has aligned himself with conservative positions in Congress.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
-
In her role at the Camera Moda Fashion Trust, she’s been vocal about the importance to support the next generation and regularly urges big brands to do their part, especially at a time of economic volatility.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Three were arrested, including — and here’s perhaps the wildest part — an unrelated man who showed up armed at the scene hours later, after a relative told him about the shooting, surrendered his firearms to police and began yelling at them.—
Joanna Allhands,
The Arizona Republic,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Everybody was yelling his name.—
Bruce Feldman,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
If co-workers are noisy, ask for sound-cancelling headphones or a seating change.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
28 June 2025
-
In a lively first-half played in front of a noisy crowd of 54,619, Chelsea were denied a penalty when Enzo Fernandez went down in the box after turning past Gerson, while at the other end Levi Colwill headed the ball off the line from a free kick.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The building directly across the street stands in sad disrepair, its windows smashed, swathed in graffiti, a front garage door hangs half-open.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2025
-
Two screenshots from the video showing Ollie was a sad facial expression.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
My baby will kiss my cheek, slobbery and open-mouthed—a gift marked by a thousand tiny miracles.—
Jessica Slice,
Time,
9 May 2025
-
As Samuel sashays toward the camera, the Old English KES text on his upper right arm and a gigantic open-mouthed snake on his left come into frame.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The root of the fallout was the Who (and specifically Daltrey) being unhappy with Starkey’s performance when the band played a pair of Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
-
On Friday, Devers alluded to being unhappy with how the Red Sox treated him.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Democratic lawmakers have been outspoken critics of conditions at the centers amid concerns over overcrowding and detainee deaths.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2025
-
Newsom, however, was an outspoken opponent of the proposition.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Howling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howling. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share