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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scowl
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
And on Saturday, another bout with foul trouble left him with a permanently piercing scowl.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Will Leitch, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scowl
Noun
Laura Dern’s scowl is one of the great wonders of American movies.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
And on Saturday, another bout with foul trouble left him with a permanently piercing scowl.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Part of me believes that, if Indiana wins, Cignetti should retire after this season and spend the rest of his life on a beach, scowling at resort attendants and being basically unimpeachable forever.
—Will Leitch, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl
Noun
-
Not a quiver in his lips, yet his frown growing.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Dec. 2025
-
My best friend Russell is an acupuncturist, and seemed like the perfect person to place my tape, slapping it on my frown lines, crow’s-feet, and nasolabial folds.—
Lena Dunham,
Vogue,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The lack of conservative candidates is glaring in Illinois, once a Republican state, which has seen Democrats capitalize on an aggressively partisan political mapmaking process (much as Republicans did in the past) to ice out political opposition.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
From the front passenger seat, Orlando businessman Jimmy Hewitt turned around and glared at Williams.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
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After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The staring contest continues, even as the administration gets itself involved in a war.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
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Before sunrise, on a frigid, frozen lake south of Madison, Wisconsin, Zach Feiner is staring at a buzzing screen.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Reaves couldn’t muster even a smirk – his 3-point attempt to tie the game as time expired on Thursday, and potentially send the Lakers to overtime with the Phoenix Suns, didn’t drop.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
27 Feb. 2026
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Today, a Michigan coach might meet that saying with a smirk.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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