hoot 1 of 2

Definition of hootnext
1
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort to the lawyer's arrogant remark

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2
as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking until he'd had his say

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3
4
as in scream
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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hoot

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hoot
Noun
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026 Inside The Manosphere is guaranteed to be a hoot. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
By February, the courtship hooting generally stops as the nesting process begins. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026 When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.
    Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • My parents have no idea what’s happening because legacy media is not reporting on anything worth a damn.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The junior left-hander, who is committed to TCU, celebrated just about every out with exuberance Tuesday, letting out loud screams and breaking out fist pumps after each strikeout.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • She is played by Gus Birney, who is great; her line-reading of one of the episode’s titles is an absolute scream.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The officer responded after hearing the father hollering for help.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Sit in a deck chair and hoot and holler at skiers going by.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Cease insulting allies and encourage mediation by Pakistan and Turkey.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The characters don’t know, and the real-life writing staff, Fogelman seems to suggest, won’t insult our intelligence by pretending to.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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