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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scowl

2 of 2

verb

ˈskau̇(-ə)l

as in to glare

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 scowl

Noun

This means a scowl is relatively likely to be an expression of anger. — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026 Leaving home without a hat, scarf, gloves, umbrella, and/or scowl. — Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Verb

Whether his teams were good or bad, his outspoken and occasionally scowling personality almost always commanded the room. — Carl Steward, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026 The note was written on Cohn’s personal stationery, imprinted with a scowling caricature of himself. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scowl

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl

Noun

Among the terminated is a welder, Choi Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), who wears a frown so implacable that it might have been etched in steel.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
The late-night host teasingly drew his face into a frown in order to copy Washington’s facial expression.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of frown

Verb

But to do it without five of his six best weapons speaks not only to his excellence but the glaring shortcomings in the Dolphins’ defense.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
Doncic came right back, drilling a three-pointer over Gary Payton II on the next possession and put his fingers on his lips and glared at the crowd.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of glare

Verb

The boy on the truck stared at the back of the gathering, his aim focused on the captain.

— Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
The first half of the film is on the dull side, featuring lots of footage of Fielder and Holmes staring at each other, unblinking, in an attempt to convince each other of their sincerity.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of stare

Noun

The pair barely crack more than a perfunctory smirk, in stark contrast to the uproarious laughter emanating from Fielder’s laptop screen.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
My mom’s siblings usually arrived in a sour mood without greeting anyone at the table, my aunt’s brow furrowed and my uncle wearing a sneaky smirk.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of smirk

Browse Nearby Words

scow

scowl

scowled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scowl

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulsome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes