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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Recent Examples of scowl
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Laura Dern’s scowl is one of the great wonders of American movies.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 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
One of the series’ most creative elements is the variety of scowls Graham deploys while arguing with Hezekiah, Mary, or his younger brother, Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), a pragmatic family man who represents everything Sugar’s life could have been if he weren’t filled with so much self-loathing.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Laura Dern’s scowl is one of the great wonders of American movies.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 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
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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
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And one glaring statistic told the story.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
On the court, however, the issue is glaring.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Not a passive one staring at a monitor in another state, but an active presence — someone who notices the unlocked window, who hears the footstep on the porch, who understands that an elder’s sudden confusion might signal a urinary tract infection.—
Neal K. Shah,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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Spread your arms on the pad and just stare into space.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Yet Lili Reinhart plays her with a diamond-hard smirk and a gleam of perception that lights up the screen.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
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Auriemma watched the chaos unfold wearing a bemused smirk.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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