howling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of howlingnext
1
as in yelling

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2
as in crying

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howling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of howl
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
2
as in shrieking
to cry out loudly and emotionally the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Adjective
With relentless howling wind making up much of the soundtrack, The Turin Horse was a chilling, enigmatic stunner that played like a metaphor for the apocalypse. — Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026 In the elk- and deer-rich areas of northern Yellowstone National Park, ravens are often among the first scavengers to arrive on the scene, swooping down to feast on scraps left behind by the howling canines. — Nidhi Sharma, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
Then, just as suddenly, the din fades away, the focus shifts and the election process is forgotten until the next round of howling protest. — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Lucy’s harebrained schemes constantly sent Ricky over the edge — and had audiences howling with laughter. — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for howling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howling
  1. yelling
  2. sad
  3. screaming
  4. shrieking
  5. vocal
  6. keening
  7. wailing
  8. squealing
Adjective
  • Think Pictionary, but with way more yelling and questionable drawings.
    — Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of yelling
Adjective
  • Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Definition of sad
Verb
  • From the outset of the selloff earlier this year, Jim Cramer was screaming from the rooftops that cyber should never have been lumped into run-of-the-mill enterprise software.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • There were no vendors hawking bootleg royal-wedding merch, no screaming lines of fans, not even that many impromptu sing-alongs (some were solicited by journalists looking for content).
    — Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 6 July 2026
Definition of screaming
Verb
  • Kids are shrieking through their favorite splash pads, faces sticky with Bomb Pop juice and joy.
    — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026
  • Raph and Grant keep tasting wasabi Oreos, with Raph shrieking and Grant grimacing.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Definition of shrieking
Adjective
  • Since then, Emilie Kiser has been vocal on social media about water safety for children, urging parents to install pool fences and door alarms with working batteries, and ensuring children have swimming sessions.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • The Voice Season 29 winner Alexia Jayy will also have a special vocal performance.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 3 July 2026
Definition of vocal
Adjective
  • The memoir shows little interest in the gambler’s psychology or the keening dramas of the floor.
    — Dan Piepenbring, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
  • This sequence, with its onstage vengeance, despair and keening dialogue, and its offstage look at how Kikuo’s triumph affects the two people closest to him, is one of the most powerful in the movie.
    — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of keening
Verb
  • My mom still talks about the 16-year-old girl in the hospital bed next to me wailing after a similar surgery.
    — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 7 July 2026
  • Lind had to do a lot of wailing upon discovering Rob-Will’s lifeless body, but the waterworks weren’t limited to just her coverage.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026
Definition of wailing
Verb
  • In the clip, Niney is pictured talking calmly on his cell phone as Gasly races around him in the Alpine car, squealing the tires.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
  • Pigs that were being hauled by the semi could be heard squealing at the scene.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Definition of squealing

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Cite this Entry

“Howling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howling. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on howling

Nglish: Translation of howling for Spanish Speakers

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