1
as in wails
a crying out in grief
we had to endure the puppy's mournful howls on her first night in our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shouts
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in roars
a violent shouting
the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in screams
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of howls
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
But listen carefully as the howls of anger and anguish are even louder coming out of Philly and Beantown.
—Bill Madden, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
As the howls got louder, the mother eagle woke up.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Each dish and recipe howls with a common sense of place.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Karen howls in a video Kaley posted to Instagram as a teenager.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Hip holidaying friends, those who don’t want to share their trip with babies’ howls, and golfers looking for an element of cool (guests have access to all the facilities at the other Costa Navarino hotels such as golf courses and the Mouratoglou tennis academy).
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Listening to Alan Vega, these rockers’ influence on his signature howls and croons becomes obvious.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
From the booth, Lyons Township announcer Aidan Brandstedt howls, overcome with excitement.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
But listen carefully as the howls of anger and anguish are even louder coming out of Philly and Beantown.
—Bill Madden, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
As the howls got louder, the mother eagle woke up.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Each dish and recipe howls with a common sense of place.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Karen howls in a video Kaley posted to Instagram as a teenager.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Hip holidaying friends, those who don’t want to share their trip with babies’ howls, and golfers looking for an element of cool (guests have access to all the facilities at the other Costa Navarino hotels such as golf courses and the Mouratoglou tennis academy).
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Listening to Alan Vega, these rockers’ influence on his signature howls and croons becomes obvious.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
From the booth, Lyons Township announcer Aidan Brandstedt howls, overcome with excitement.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howls
Noun
-
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.—
Mike McFeely,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lane uses his loud, outside voice to excellent effect, his shouts of exasperation and anger giving way to instant regret and recrimination.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In response to shouts for everyone to get down, one administration official at a media table crawled under it, with just her high heels poking out.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Locals have heard the roars of F-16s before, when the Air Force’s Thunderbirds performed above downtown Boise in Gowen Thunder Airshow events.—
Hali Smith
April 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The occasional roars of delivery trucks and motorcycles that used our alleys to get around the traffic of the main roads, to cut through the city.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing about this neighborhood screams blockbuster.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
In the clip, the ride suddenly falls down with her phone dropping to the ground, and screams can be heard in the background in the seconds after the collapse.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Through your tears, see a brief, shimmering vision of What Might Have Been.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
My eyes, raw and stinging, now filled with their own salty tears.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
If recent history repeats, new cries could come from the crowd, too.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
Two years into Bronny James’ NBA career, in the postseason spotlight, cries of nepotism will have to wait for the bench minutes the Lakers actually need from the 21-year-old guard.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first clip showed Duff making cat and bird noises as Townes, who turns 2 on May 3, played with her hair and smiled at the camera.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus sundry hallucinations, bad dreams, possession, dark spaces, creepy noises, fraught family relations — and, as with so many horror stories, a bad thing in the past bringing down the future.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Howls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howls. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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