1
as in wail
a crying out in grief
we had to endure the puppy's mournful howls on her first night in our house
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2
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics
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3
as in roar
a violent shouting
the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call
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1
2
as in to scream
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of howl
Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The little dog started howling and suddenly Cher appeared in a bathrobe with cold cream on her face.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
Wolves are extremely social animals that howl to communicate and bond with their packs, but these wolves are alone in the world.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the unmistakable sounds of a dog howling and barking echo loudly off-screen.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for howl
Verb
The vehicle passed lemon trees, towering cacti, howling dogs, olive groves and Indian figs as well as gardens planted with eggplants and fava beans.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
The little dog started howling and suddenly Cher appeared in a bathrobe with cold cream on her face.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
Wolves are extremely social animals that howl to communicate and bond with their packs, but these wolves are alone in the world.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the unmistakable sounds of a dog howling and barking echo loudly off-screen.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for howl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howl
Noun
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After about seven minutes — and two more rounds of Narcan — the wail of sirens are finally heard.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
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The driving force at the center of almost all the show’s best numbers is Webb’s voice, which is a marvelous instrument for this music, equally capable of delivering touching tenderness or a velvety wail of triumphant transcendence.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article LONDON (AP) — A 53-year-old British man plowed a minivan into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans who were celebrating the city’s Premier League championship Monday, injuring more than 45 people as shouts of joy turned into shrieks of terror.—
Brian Melley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
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Flav took time to give shout outs from the stage to a pair of local hip-hop legends — Too Short and E-40 — the latter of whom would combine forces with the hype man for a cooking demonstration with chef Aaron Sanchez earlier in the day on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
24 May 2025
Noun
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This was the first finals game in Indianapolis in 25 years, and the roar of the Hoosier faithful throughout the night was something to behold.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
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The roar of the Thunderbirds filled the sky Saturday over Beale Air Force Base, long known for the more clandestine surveillance and recon missions of the U.S. Air Force.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Berger’s tiny stage bulges like a clown car, stuffed with superb comedians such as Russell Daniels, playing a prospective son-in-law (and Grade A idiot) who shrieks around sick people, and Sarah Stiles, as a pert soubrette.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
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The nationwide campaign against DEI, inspired in large by Trump himself, is a shrieking dog whistle to a MAGA subset that wants only a white man’s world.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Leonardo DiCaprio’s screaming to the top of his lungs.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
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Throughout their time together, Cozart said Travis Decker would scream in the middle of the night, soak the bed and only get one or two hours of sleep.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Surveillance footage from the home reviewed by investigators allegedly showed the foster mother punching the toddler in the head, yanking her by her hair so violently that the child's head struck floors and furniture, hitting her with a wooden spoon and covering her mouth to silence her cries.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
12 June 2025
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Here, the actress recalls some of her favorite career memories, the part that got away, and the film that always makes her cry.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Speaking their language with specific quantitative proof points can help B2B marketers rise above the noise and appeal directly to purchase decisions.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Another order instructs the FAA to establish a standard for noise certification and lift a ban on overland supersonic flight.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Verb
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An approach shot on 14 that spun away from the hole left him slamming his club into the fairway, yelling at himself.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
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Some nearby fans continue to yell at Cousins while others get up and move away from the tense situation.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Howl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howl. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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