1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he was growling about how much work he had to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to roar
to make a long loud deep noise or cry
the neighbor's dog growls every time we pass the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of growl
Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Expect the never-ending guitar solos and monstrous growling members Phantom Slaughter and Wroth Septentrion are known for—plus one sprawling, 14-minute track featuring Marty Friedman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
The most memorable sound effect for Northwestern games at Ryan Field was a screeching Wildcat growl after big plays.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Verb
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Expect the never-ending guitar solos and monstrous growling members Phantom Slaughter and Wroth Septentrion are known for—plus one sprawling, 14-minute track featuring Marty Friedman.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
The rumble and growl of the other racers’ engines was growing louder by the minute.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
The most memorable sound effect for Northwestern games at Ryan Field was a screeching Wildcat growl after big plays.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growl
Verb
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One of the hosts yelled repeatedly about the results, complained about just about everything and dropped a lot of F-bombs.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
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Some workers complain that receiving calls and messages can interrupt their recordings, and having a phone strapped to their head is uncomfortable.—
NILESH CHRISTOPHER LOS ANGELES TIMES,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Thousands had filled the arena, roaring with anticipation.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Helicopters roar overhead, reminding me that last week people were worried the Oscars were going to get droned.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another video shared on Instagram, presumably taken at an earlier point, shows the same bot rumbling along to deliver some food with the same graffiti scribbled on its exterior.—
Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19,
Futurism,
19 Mar. 2026
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But there has been rumbling for weeks among activists that something about Chavez was coming.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The lengthy delays to get through security checkpoints come as more travelers are going on trips for spring break and running into snarls because of the partial government shutdown.—
Austin Denean,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
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The result was a kind of gasp or snarl configuration of my cheeks and lips.—
Paul Keane,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Despite the high tech projections and precise lighting and sound effects and the whole thing about people turning into rhinoceri, this a wondrously theatrical production, based on real people talking and emoting and screaming and waving their arms about.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
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Slayr raps, sings, and screams across this thing, producing most of it himself with frequent contributions from the producer wa.—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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McGraw has been doing the work Close arguably couldn’t for weeks without coming across as whining.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Paige is little more than a dumb blonde stereotype, another underwritten female character in Sheridan’s growing oeuvre, but Chapman laces her babyish whining with surprising bite, while showing a knack for physical comedy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 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
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Growl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growl. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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