scowl 1 of 2

Definition of scowlnext
as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval the man across the street never seems to wear anything but a scowl

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scowl

2 of 2

verb

as in to glare
to look with anger or disapproval scowled down at the misbehaving child

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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 scowl
Noun
His fierce disposition in competition — the scowl, the pumping of fists and the guttural yells after big plays — came in stark contrast to his off-court good nature and broad grins. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026 She's got a scowl on her face as Marfisee and her students approach. Vanessa Romo, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
Those that attended mostly sat and scowled. Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026 He was picked up first on meth charges on May 14, 1986, according to news reports and a San Francisco police booking photo, which shows him in a blue hoodie scowling into the camera. Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl
Noun
  • The Spaniard left hurriedly, carrying a frown that owed to a sense of injustice.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Greg’s smile, contrasted with the frowns and thumbs-down from the rest of the crew, makes for an entertaining visual.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Indiana walks away with a huge win, and the WNBA walks away with another glaring lesson in who actually drives the bus.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
  • Following last year’s Louvre heist, a new report released by a French parliamentary commission on May 13 sheds light on glaring security deficiencies within the country’s cultural institutions.
    News Desk, Artforum, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • And Ahmed, with his fearful eyes and tense grimace, makes for a compellingly sad and isolated figure.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Charlie Lindgren’s grimace was evident behind his mask.
    Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Why Off-Grid Travel Is Booming In 2026 The shift is driven by hard numbers about how much of life is spent staring at a screen.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
  • His hands were at ten and two, his face fixed, staring straight ahead.
    Weike Wang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • An elderly man offered a smirk for his mugshot after being arrested in a caught-on-camera hit-and-run involving a cyclist group.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
  • The prospect of doing it again with even larger stakes brought an excited smirk to Smart’s face.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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