as in howl
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
the cat gave a yowl of anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
a bitterly cold winter that had people yowling about their heating bills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 yowl
Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
As a shape-shifting rock poet — a prophet with a nasal yowl — Dylan and his opaque words were particularly attractive for theorists of the literary, musical and conspiratorial varieties.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The music video for the song weaves together footage from each of the sessions: Slash with his bandmates cutting the song live, Johnson getting into the groove, and Tyler yowling between harp bursts.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for yowl
Noun
Yes, that would be Post Malone, who convincingly simulated Kurt Cobain’s phlegmy yowls, rocking the mic as Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic thrashed and crashed around him.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
As a shape-shifting rock poet — a prophet with a nasal yowl — Dylan and his opaque words were particularly attractive for theorists of the literary, musical and conspiratorial varieties.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
In one number, Swinton, who goes glossy-eyed to show the cracks in her high-fashion veneer, poses in a transparent rain slicker while bleating raw, yowling noises that blend with the despairing strings.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The music video for the song weaves together footage from each of the sessions: Slash with his bandmates cutting the song live, Johnson getting into the groove, and Tyler yowling between harp bursts.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for yowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yowl
Verb
-
A number of Tesla shareholders, including some Democrats who oversee the investment of public sector pension fund money in Tesla stock, complained in May to Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm that Musk’s other activities are hurting the company.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
-
Essentially, the legislation does away with a process that some have complained can be time-consuming and expensive—at least in some cases.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Up above, winds would have howled around the equator in strong gusts, and tiny ice crystals would have settled out of air that remained below freezing everywhere.—
Laura Poppick
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
Nearly half of the dogs, about 45 percent, consistently reacted to canine sounds such as barking or howling on TV.—
Jenny Lehmann,
Discover Magazine,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
This book is a shout out to the silence that so many women live in every day.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
-
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company in Phoenix Arizona Wilderness got a shout out for its Green Chili Pulled Pork Fries ($15), made with duck fat fries topped with Wilderness beer cheese, pulled pork, green chili and parsley.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Julia Tate was headed to bed a few weeks ago when her daughter burst into their rowhouse screaming.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
-
On a warm day July 11, Caroline Flynn and her young children were in a South Boston park near their home for a birthday party when her 4-year-old ran out of a play area without shoes on and screamed.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
A bit more time can pass here, amidst the continuing cries of children swimming, as the great sun descends as low as possible to meet the mountain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
Trump slapped additional tariffs on automobile parts, inciting cries of protest from American car companies.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
Supercharger whine simply never gets old, and after burning through over half a tank of gas in one sitting, coolant temps never got anywhere near concerning.—
Peter Nelson,
ArsTechnica,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Even in the quietest mode with valving closed down, the engine and exhaust and supercharger whine go barking mad with the lightest blip of throttle, making the temptation to heel-toe through every downshift almost inescapable.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
When a truck carrying Mr. Nasrallah’s coffin entered the stadium, the crowd erupted in shrieks and cries as the voice of the former Hezbollah leader — clipped from his speeches — echoed from speakers.—
Christina Goldbaum,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Late in the show, a lone woman’s passionate shriek activates something in McCartney.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Now-tired 2010 fads that Lorde pioneered, including bittersweet tropical-pop textures and moaning vocal snippets, are everywhere.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
-
After one season, he was forcefully rejected by the community, which moaned to the press (and the local police) that the tranquil pondside inn was becoming a celebrity- and influencer-infested late-night party spot just like his club in the city.—
Brock Colyar,
Curbed,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yowl. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share