SCOWL Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

scowl 1 of 2

noun

Definition of scowl

as in frown

a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval the man across the street never seems to wear anything but a scowl

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scowl

2 of 2

verb

ˈskau̇(-ə)l

as in to glare

to look with anger or disapproval scowled down at the misbehaving child

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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 scowl

Noun

Leaving home without a hat, scarf, gloves, umbrella, and/or scowl. — Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026 May wears a smile more often than not, while Underwood is more associated with a perpetual scowl. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

Verb

Leaving home without a hat, scarf, gloves, umbrella, and/or scowl. — Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026 My sister was scowling and pacing the path outside my mother’s flat. — Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scowl

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl

Noun

Numbers might be up, but frowns are also up.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Turning a smile into a frown, or a frown into a smile.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 June 2026

Definition of frown

Verb

Still, as the rockets glared and smoke from pre-match pyrotechnics faded, those seats filled quickly.

— Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 July 2026
Once launched, Eärendil-1 would deploy an 18-meter-wide steerable mirror to demonstrate that technological feat; anyone or anything in the path of its beam would see the satellite as a glaring dot shining up to four times brighter than a full moon.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Definition of glare

Noun

He was knocked down by center Brayden Schenn on the final faceoff, then skated off the ice with a grimace.

— Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
He was immortalized in a perpetual full-body muscle flex, and bore the grimace of a guy who really, really wants to pick a fight.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Definition of grimace

Verb

But in keeping with its protagonist’s difficulty staring at his feelings head-on, The Vampire Lestat—and the marketing that preceded its premiere—doesn’t start with ballads or sensual odes to far-reaching love.

— Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
From an underwater viewing area, Chinita Head, 52, stared past the glass alongside her 6-year-old nephew, Christian Walker.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of stare

Noun

His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Robinson appeared to furrow his brow and smirk as the text messages about the engravings were displayed in the courtroom.

— Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of smirk

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scow

scowl

scowled

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“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of scowl

noun

verb

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