hoots 1 of 2

plural of hoot
1
as in howls
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 snorts
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

hoots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hoot

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 hoots
Verb
All the segments understand the assignment, aiming primarily to elicit hoots and hollers. James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025 The town hall crowd received my comments with strong clapping and appreciative hoots and hollers. Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoots
Noun
  • The request drew audible groans and shouts from other members.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • There were shouts and even a near miss from a water pistol.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Voices gasped, exhaled for a beat, then rose up in screams of horror.
    Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • As cheers and screams of joy rang out in El Alto, Venezuelan fans began to sob in the stands.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The screams, the reason everyone assembles, when the screams come, after a few collective inhales and exhales and a moment to gather one’s thoughts, the screams come like long guttural howls.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The dog's cries pierced people's hearts, and as of Thursday, the TikTok video reached over 278,000 views and 40,300 likes.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • All of the killings happened within 7 miles across two grazing allotments, and range riders and shepherds reported hearing wolf cries in the area on several occasions.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • TikTok @evelynmmartin The dog jumps onto the grassy area, shakes his head with his whole body moving in excitement, and jumps up to greet Martin, showering her with licks and nuzzles before spinning excitedly in a circle.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Hopefully that was worth it — because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took his fair share of licks in the process.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Posey brought the laughs and lorazepam to The White Lotus season 3 as the Ratliff family matriarch, Victoria.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Rogen remembers the moment Apatow came up with one of the scenes that drew the biggest laughs in the film, in which Steve Carell’s character awkwardly tries to relieve himself while aroused.
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This included early American music forms, marches, spirituals, field hollers, work songs and African rhythms, as well as their musical descendants, like jazz, blues, gospel, country and rock ‘n’ roll.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Lots of noise, big splashes, a few congratulatory whoops and hollers.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • In the case of Governor Pritzker insults his body, body shamed him.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
  • No matter how many times Putin insults the president and ignores his calls for a total ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump returns for more humiliation.
    Trudy Rubin, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hoots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoots. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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