as in howl
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
the cat gave a yowl of anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
a bitterly cold winter that had people yowling about their heating bills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of yowl
Paula Mejía, Vulture, 5 July 2025
Some hockey teams have incorporated sound effects into their celebratory goal-horn noise—a cannon blast for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a cat’s yowl for the Florida Panthers.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Kelli Bender, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
How to get your cat to stop meowing Some breeds, like Siamese cats, meow and yowl more than others.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for yowl
Noun
Liam sang most of the songs in his reedy yowl, all charisma with his hands pulled behind his back, head tilted up toward the sky and a parka often inexplicably zipped all the way up to his chin.
—Paula Mejía, Vulture, 5 July 2025
Some hockey teams have incorporated sound effects into their celebratory goal-horn noise—a cannon blast for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a cat’s yowl for the Florida Panthers.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Verb
In the clip, Mees opens the door for the yowling Crush, who quickly paws inside and jumps up on a side table next to Cora's crib.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
How to get your cat to stop meowing Some breeds, like Siamese cats, meow and yowl more than others.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for yowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yowl
Noun
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In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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Trump’s media-bashing, often a dull roar in the background, is an unusually loud howl right now.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The driver and passenger in the BMW complained of pain.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The prologue that opens Ragtime loudly announces the musical’s epic ambitions as its nine fictional characters and six of its historical figures introduce themselves with third-person narration and shout-singing.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The shout of glee at the news that Christopher Kane is the new creative director at Mulberry was practically audible across London this morning.—
Sarah Mower,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The voice-over exchange on racial identity is played as obvious parody — the satire screaming its head off in case anyone should question the play’s point of view.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Seeing Darlene Mitchell cry was heartbreaking.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
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Ave Maria, Florida — One Wednesday this month, loud cries erupted from two teenage girls huddled over a cellphone in the parking lot of a local supermarket.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With LeBron James buying into a supporting actor role, the Lakers are a legitimate threat because Doncic is more focused on scoring buckets than whining to officials.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
20 Mar. 2026
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Part of it is [capturing] the color of light in the morning or the sound of drones whining in the air.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The shriek of mourning is not a metaphor but an ongoing condition the medium makes material.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yowl. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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