HOWLS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

howls 1 of 2

noun

plural of howl

as in wails

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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as in shouts

a loud vocal expression of strong emotion heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics

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as in roars

a violent shouting the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call

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howls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of howl

as in shrieks

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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as in screams

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 howls

Noun

Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world. — Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026 Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus. — Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026 It’s installed bioacoustic cameras in Yellowstone to track wolves and analyze their howls. — Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026 The Kremlin’s internet blackouts have raised howls among ordinary Russians as the regime tries to limit information on economic woes and soaring casualties in Ukraine. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 May 2026 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

Verb

Up in the stands, fans waved their own flags — including some sneaked in over the objections of FIFA and the courts — and wrestled with emotions, as boos, howls and hisses rained down from all corners of the stadium. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 16 June 2026 Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 In the summer, the temperature is always above 100; in the winter, the wind howls and shakes our townhouse. — Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 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 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 Listening to Alan Vega, these rockers’ influence on his signature howls and croons becomes obvious. — Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for howls

Noun

Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.

— Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026

Definition of wails

Noun

There were possible penalty shouts, hard tackles that were not whistled for fouls, soft calls on Egypt that were ignored when similar plays were made by Argentina.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
The fatal shooting of a New York Knicks fan’s dog after her shouts over the team’s thrilling win of the NBA championship is now headed to federal court.

— Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of shouts

Verb

In footage shared on TikTok, the 50 First Dates star is seen asking Rapp about her then-upcoming album, Snow Angel, when an audience member suddenly screams Barrymore’s name.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
The audience’s screams and applause for Knight and Keller lasted nearly 28 seconds.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of screams

Noun

While relatives looked on in bemusement, my brother and I burst into tears, inconsolable.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
On Wednesday, Argentina player Lisandro Martínez was asked if the banner could have stirred deep emotions and tears for a veteran of the Malvinas conflict.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of tears

Noun

As the bodies were returned to their families, cries echoed through the neighborhood.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
The other was a tearing beauty, a creature so lovely that one look at her sent young men’s blood pressure skyward and set them to uttering wild, hoarse cries and tearing telephone directories apart with the bare hands.

— John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026

Definition of cries

Noun

Common symptoms include vertigo, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, ringing, buzzing or other noises, as well as hearing loss.

— Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 July 2026
There are toggles for a low-latency Game Mode, a soundstage-expanding Theater Mode, a Privacy Mode that just seems to lower the volume to avoid sound leakage, and a Game Sound Effects mode that aims to boost certain game noises like footsteps.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026

Definition of noises

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howling

howls

hows

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Style

“Howls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howls. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of howls

noun

verb

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