1
as in wails
a crying out in grief
we had to endure the puppy's mournful howls on her first night in our house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shouts
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in roars
a violent shouting
the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in screams
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of howls
The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Sep. 2025
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
More importantly, the most recent of these sightings, just two years ago, was by a railroad passenger, so keep a lookout for a tall, hairy figure, or for massive footprints, which are also commonly reported, and listen for the mysterious creature’s spine-tingling howls.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
The ugly episode drew howls from those lawmakers in both parties who are calling to tone down the hostilities and focus on legislating, not seeking attention on social media.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howls
Noun
-
Her wails make Davina recall her own confinement, where she was treated similarly awfully and responded by cursing the women in the room.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
-
An ambulance siren wails past, coming up from the river.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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
-
For decades, the mighty roars of dinosaurs have thundered through movies, TV shows, and filled the imaginations of children and adults alike.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And Gutfeld didn’t shed any tears for his fellow TV host.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
-
For some, tears stained their faces.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since Kimmel’s remark, the backlash has shifted from conservative furor to cries of capitulation, coming from Capitol Hill Democrats, to former President Barack Obama, to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To him the silence was a flare of sound, a brilliant day of noises dazzling through the veins of dusk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Seth Meyers exercised his right to use fart noises.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nothing screams comfort food more than a chicken pot pie.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Creating a pumpkin fairy village channels a whimsical aesthetic that still screams fall.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trains are drowning out the coach’s voice, the wind squeals in my hearing aids.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Howls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howls. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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