as in guttural
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Recent Examples of growly
Neeson’s a growly delight, while Huston steals most of his scenes.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 July 2025
There’s even a ragged guitar solo and some growly vocals that reveal Rivers Cuomo’s heavy-metal roots.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
So Swims seems to be benefiting from an overall mainstreaming of growly country voices (looking at you, Chris Stapleton and Zach Bryan) and bringing it into the pop space.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024
The song eventually rises to a joyous riot of guitar, drums, saxophone and keyboards more than five minutes in, building to a pair of joyous peaks as Jagger and Gaga get entangled in a growly soul shout-off.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2023
Evolution wired us to fear snakes, spiders, big growly beasts—not guns, not nuclear bombs, not climate change, not AIs.
—Kc Cole, WIRED, 14 July 2023
The combination of a growly engine and high-feedback suspension gives the car a gritty, mechanical feel that holds promise for the fan of the driving art.
—Kevin Smith, Car and Driver, 24 June 2023
Considering that in the summer Mr. Zeldin had been attacked on stage by a critic armed with a keychain weapon, and that a few weeks ago his twin daughters were at risk from bullets shot into a fence beside their home, growly and grim is more normal than purring and cheery.
—WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
The all-new, gorgeous Z roared our way this summer, bringing with it loads of growly fun, 400 horses under the hood and ready to take on all comers in its (reasonable) price range of $41,015.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 30 July 2025
There’s even a ragged guitar solo and some growly vocals that reveal Rivers Cuomo’s heavy-metal roots.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
So Swims seems to be benefiting from an overall mainstreaming of growly country voices (looking at you, Chris Stapleton and Zach Bryan) and bringing it into the pop space.
—Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024
The song eventually rises to a joyous riot of guitar, drums, saxophone and keyboards more than five minutes in, building to a pair of joyous peaks as Jagger and Gaga get entangled in a growly soul shout-off.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2023
Evolution wired us to fear snakes, spiders, big growly beasts—not guns, not nuclear bombs, not climate change, not AIs.
—Kc Cole, WIRED, 14 July 2023
The combination of a growly engine and high-feedback suspension gives the car a gritty, mechanical feel that holds promise for the fan of the driving art.
—Kevin Smith, Car and Driver, 24 June 2023
Considering that in the summer Mr. Zeldin had been attacked on stage by a critic armed with a keychain weapon, and that a few weeks ago his twin daughters were at risk from bullets shot into a fence beside their home, growly and grim is more normal than purring and cheery.
—WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
The all-new, gorgeous Z roared our way this summer, bringing with it loads of growly fun, 400 horses under the hood and ready to take on all comers in its (reasonable) price range of $41,015.
—Josh Max, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growly
Adjective
-
The goal inspired an unleashing, a guttural cry into the blackness overhead from the sea of red and green behind Belgium’s goal.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
-
Keith Richards’s guitar part, guttural and revving, meets St. Julien in the intro and builds steadily.—
Reya Hart,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
My new favourite spot nearby was a long, sunken garden, complete with stone fountains, a gravelly terrace, and grand staircases sprawling down from street level.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Goldberg said one recent afternoon, in her gravelly voice.—
André Wheeler,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Bill Pogue’s family and friends knew him as a thoughtful, deeply sensitive man, despite his reputation as a gruff, stern, wildlife officer.—
Jim Zumbo,
Outdoor Life,
17 July 2025
-
Who leaves us echoes — gruff, brilliant, unrepeatable — half legend, half lullaby.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Now, his lumbering physicality and raspy voice add to the humor.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
-
Joe Biden's live debate performance was marked by stumbling, meandering answers and a quiet, raspy voice that took viewers by surprise and immediately raised questions about Biden's fitness to serve another term.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Kendrick responds to that feedback on the album version, which trades his smooth vocals on the single version for a throatier delivery and cuts off the third verse for a clunky and misinformed skit about the etymology of the N-word.—
Stephen Kearse,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
-
The instrumentation on the album is a gleaming and impenetrable expanse, and the main attraction is Lipa, whose voice is strong and occasionally throaty.—
Amanda Petrusich,
The New Yorker,
3 May 2024
Adjective
-
In the clip, the animals tussle on a bed, Moose making playful growling noises as he and Peach play-fight, Moose using his mouth and Peach giving it all with his paws.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The world's complex environmental issues demand open minds, fresh perspectives, and less growling.—
Keith Kloor,
Discover Magazine,
22 June 2012
Adjective
-
For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hank’s son Bobby is no longer a husky middle-schooler, but a 21-year-old running his own Japanese-German fusion restaurant in Dallas, for instance.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
-
Now, at only 23 years old, he's gone viral for his warm, husky voice and his Noah Kahan meets Zach Bryan country-folk sound.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Growly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growly. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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