as in frowning
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Dissimilar Words
as in glaring
to look with anger or disapproval
scowled down at the misbehaving child
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scowling
Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Grejo sank scowling back into his chair as though stung by Adi’s answer.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Their head coach, Curt Cignetti, perpetually scowling beneath his 1950s crew cut, is fuel for countless memes.
—Keith O’Brien, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
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
Picture Andy Warhol scowling in the corner of the billiards room.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Now our favorite scowling friend is getting his own movie, too.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
In terms of my entry point to him, just understanding that this wasn’t a monster that was going to be scowling in the shadows and looking for any opportunity to hurt someone.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Oct. 2025
Ray’s brother, Jem (Sean Bean), has shown up to reconnect, and for a long time these two sit around not saying very much, pouring drinks and scowling at each other, at one point getting their ya-yas out with a midnight rock ‘n’ roll dance, then scowling some more.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Then there was that image circulating in the bowels of the internet that showed a man who looked exactly like JD scowling at an unidentifiable brunette woman in a restaurant.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Grejo sank scowling back into his chair as though stung by Adi’s answer.
—Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Their head coach, Curt Cignetti, perpetually scowling beneath his 1950s crew cut, is fuel for countless memes.
—Keith O’Brien, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
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
Picture Andy Warhol scowling in the corner of the billiards room.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Now our favorite scowling friend is getting his own movie, too.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
In terms of my entry point to him, just understanding that this wasn’t a monster that was going to be scowling in the shadows and looking for any opportunity to hurt someone.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Oct. 2025
Ray’s brother, Jem (Sean Bean), has shown up to reconnect, and for a long time these two sit around not saying very much, pouring drinks and scowling at each other, at one point getting their ya-yas out with a midnight rock ‘n’ roll dance, then scowling some more.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowling
Verb
-
But oily skin that puts a glaring spotlight on your T-zone and nasolabial folds?—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Teams with some glaring vulnerabilities, but also some great wins.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jordan Stolz, sitting opposite of the finish line staring at a large video board, looked at his coach and nodded.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Most of the crowd is talking quietly among themselves, oblivious to Trevor Yeakley’s gaze, except for two men staring daggers right back at him.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The men stood frowning at each other and then back at Adi until the one without the gun broke into croaks of laughter.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Smiling can actually lift your mood, while frowning can lower it.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scowling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowling. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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