Synonyms of howls

howls 1 of 2

noun

plural of howl

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

• wails
• tears
• cries
• groans
• lamentations
• moans
• mournings
• plaints
• laments
• sobs
• keens
• protests
• outcries
• regrets
• sufferings
• sorrows
• complaints
• heartaches
• woes
• heartbreaks
• anguishes
• griefs
• dolors
• hand-wringings
• cris de coeur

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicings
• exultations

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

• shouts
• cries
• screams
• shrieks
• squeals
• yells
• roars
• hollers
• yowls
• hoots
• whoops
• yelps
• screeches
• squeaks
• outcries
• interjections
• wails
• ejaculations
• bellows
• shrills
• squalls
• clamors
• bawls
• plaints
• caterwauls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• murmurs
• mutters
• whispers
• gasps
• mumbles
• whimpers

3

as in roars

a violent shouting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roars
• noises
• outcries
• vociferations
• clamors
• uproars
• tumults
• protests
• rackets
• hue and cries
• hubbubs
• jangle
• hullabaloos
• dins
• outbursts
• cris de coeur
• clangors

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• murmurs
• rumblings
• rumbles
• mumbles

howls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of howl

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shrieks
• screams
• wails
• yells
• yowls
• squeals
• keens
• yelps
• screeches
• shrills
• bays
• ululates
• squalls
• bawls
• caterwauls
• yawps

2

as in screams

to cry out loudly and emotionally

the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shrieks
• screams
• squeals
• yells
• cries
• yelps
• screeches
• shrills
• squalls
• wails
• shouts
• yowls
• squawks
• caterwauls
• keens
• hollers
• thunders
• bawls
• bays
• yawps
• vociferates
• calls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whispers
• murmurs
• mutters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of howls

Noun

Somewhere in the heated mist hovered the howls of Albert Ayler and the clarion call of his brother Donald’s trumpet, followed by the Ornette Coleman Quartet, saluting him with joyous cacophony. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026

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

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

At night, the coyote howls echo through the development keeping residents awake. — N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2026

This is the sort of pure 1980s batshit monologue that prompts both oh-my-Lord gasps and howls of laughter, and Neill nails the whole thing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 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