howling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of howlingnext
1
as in yelling

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2
as in crying

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Dissimilar Words

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
After the rain stopped, there was a strange howling sound from the wind that was loud, constant, and all night long. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025 Aaron Chown—Press Association via AP Images People remove a new artwork by Banksy, depicting a howling wolf painted on a satellite dish that was placed on a shop roof in Peckham, south London. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
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 Gary ad-libbed to the sound of howling winds and ominous metal scraping. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for howling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howling
  1. yelling
  2. crying
  3. screaming
  4. shrieking
  5. vocal
  6. sad
  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
  • Some in the pro-crying camp pointed to articles and headlines as proof.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of crying
Verb
  • Reuters/Juan David Duque At the airport in Pereira, videos showed pieces of ceiling falling down on travelers taking shelter and screaming, and people running through rubble in a panic.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In Pereira, further south in the coffee-producing mountains of Colombia, photos and videos on local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling onto travelers taking shelter and screaming.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of screaming
Verb
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
  • Kids are shrieking through their favorite splash pads, faces sticky with Bomb Pop juice and joy.
    — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026
Definition of shrieking
Adjective
  • Together, Clancy’s vocal, physical and written messages offered key insights into her perspective in the second week of her trial on three counts of murder in the killings of her children Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Elevating other leaders that are on our team to be more vocal out there.
    — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocal
Adjective
  • Said sad attraction is not exactly comparable to Buckingham Fountain.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Their deaths were a sad reminder of the danger that pneumococcal pneumonia poses to older adults.
    — Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Verb
  • This Lusitania didn’t sink as a formal band played, but the ticking of each man’s pocket watch synchronized to form a furious percussion section, and all those wailing women’s voices layered into girl-group harmonies.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of wailing in agony after sampling the vengefully spiked bird, Prince fell in love with it and founded the BBQ Chicken Shack in 1945.
    — Ellen Fort, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of wailing
Verb
  • Cannon said before pretending to jab his arm with a dosage while squealing from the pain and showing his vaccination card.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of squealing

Browse Nearby Words

howlers
howling
howls
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Cite this Entry

“Howling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howling. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on howling

Nglish: Translation of howling for Spanish Speakers

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