as in guttural
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1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he was growling about how much work he had to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in roaring
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 growling
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
Sometimes animatronic and growling, sometimes staring out dead-eyed, classic and static.
—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2022
Under this gesturing, growling, fiery sprite of a dude, the team is sturdier, more focused, playing harder, playing smarter.
—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2021
Getty Images / AndreyPopov) Going to bed with a growling stomach isn’t great, either.
—
Lindsey Vickers,
USA TODAY,
29 Apr. 2020
But be mindful of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—
Carlos Monarrez,
Detroit Free Press,
7 June 2019
Who can forget the wonder embedded in gifts of ribbon candy, or the crackling fat of the roasted pig that signaled abundance and the passing of years, or the growling hunger of a long winter?
—
Alissa Wilkinson,
Vox,
25 May 2018
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—
Keith Kloor,
Discover Magazine,
22 June 2012
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
3 July 2026
Could the growling creature be responsible for the gouges by Zampanò’s dead body?
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The big question is whether people who pay hundreds of thousands of euros for growling gas-guzzlers will also shell out for electric versions.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Or any of the Republican gym bros peddling supplements online and growling lifestyle advice into webcams.
—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
At that point, your stomach has probably been growling for a good hour, so answer that call with some tacos at Taqueria Rosita.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.
—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
But the innocent visit turns ugly when Alice keeps growling at a wall.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Any growling or negative reactions shouldn’t be punished, as the dog is just showing their unhappiness.
—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
Sometimes animatronic and growling, sometimes staring out dead-eyed, classic and static.
—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2022
Under this gesturing, growling, fiery sprite of a dude, the team is sturdier, more focused, playing harder, playing smarter.
—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2021
Getty Images / AndreyPopov) Going to bed with a growling stomach isn’t great, either.
—
Lindsey Vickers,
USA TODAY,
29 Apr. 2020
But be mindful of the wind, which can turn Lyon Oaks into a growling beast.
—
Carlos Monarrez,
Detroit Free Press,
7 June 2019
Who can forget the wonder embedded in gifts of ribbon candy, or the crackling fat of the roasted pig that signaled abundance and the passing of years, or the growling hunger of a long winter?
—
Alissa Wilkinson,
Vox,
25 May 2018
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.
—
Keith Kloor,
Discover Magazine,
22 June 2012
Verb
This could include sniffing around more than usual or barking and growling at odd places like piles of leaves.
—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
3 July 2026
Could the growling creature be responsible for the gouges by Zampanò’s dead body?
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
The big question is whether people who pay hundreds of thousands of euros for growling gas-guzzlers will also shell out for electric versions.
—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Or any of the Republican gym bros peddling supplements online and growling lifestyle advice into webcams.
—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
At that point, your stomach has probably been growling for a good hour, so answer that call with some tacos at Taqueria Rosita.
—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.
—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
But the innocent visit turns ugly when Alice keeps growling at a wall.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growling
Adjective
-
Exploding The Weeknd’s shivery lust with the guttural churn of Deftones, this is toxic codependency music, the perfect soundtrack for Obsession if the movie were more tasteless.
-
Out comes a guttural groan, her exertion a tight whip cracking open a black hole of pain.
Verb
-
The couple’s relationship began with a friendship bracelet and a podcast shout-out in July 2023, and by September Swift was screaming profanities in support of her new favorite football player.
-
As Rayan began screaming, al-Ajeen, whose family has long farmed in the area, picked up his son and began walking again.
Verb
-
Spectators can also use the tool to access photos, history and basic facts about the legendary aircraft roaring overhead.
-
Their 10-day mission around the moon and back to Earth began with the roaring ignition of SLS's four RS-25 engines and two massive solid rocket boosters (SRBs).
Verb
-
This ground beef casserole will satisfy all the rumbling stomachs at your table.
-
The house sits on a road tucked alongside a steep railroad embankment, where tracks carry rumbling trains to a rail yard in the village of fewer than 1,000 residents.
Adjective
-
The other was a tearing beauty, a creature so lovely that one look at her sent young men’s blood pressure skyward and set them to uttering wild, hoarse cries and tearing telephone directories apart with the bare hands.
-
Others walked home sunburned, hoarse and still dressed in blue and orange.
Verb
-
But John Healey stepped down as defense secretary this month after complaining that Starmer was not moving fast enough to meet the target.
-
Still, some users are complaining online.
Adjective
-
And, seriously, what was up with that growly Batman voice?
-
And Davis’s integrity puts him at odds with his longtime fence, Money (Nick Nolte, nice and growly as ever), who responds by enlisting the services of Ormon (Barry Keoghan), a platinum-blond thug on a motorcycle.
Verb
-
Stop whining and complaining, people.
-
Well, certainly a lot of whining about technology.
Cite this Entry
“Growling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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