1
as in shout
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in snort
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't give a hoot whether you want to go or not—you're going
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoot
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Noun
The volume and speed of your hoot are also important.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
An out of shape owl emerged, followed by jealous girlfriend owl and the ADHD-riddled owl, who is far too distracted to hoot.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
-
In response to shouts for everyone to get down, one administration official at a media table crawled under it, with just her high heels poking out.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Outside, a kid spots the bus and shouts.—
Emmanuel Igunza,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My wife, meanwhile, guards against the occasional loud snort with one of the oldest and most elegant anti-snoring technologies ever devised: earplugs.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Volcanoes, like stars and tides and changing seasons, don’t give a damn.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fans have long gravitated toward Swift's dramatic, scream-worthy bridges.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This isn’t a scream from some hound of love (though dogs do bark on the recording).—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
None of these words mean anything to me, but there was more hooting and hollering for this announcement in the press section of Caesar's than for any other piece of news today, so that's gotta count for something.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The families hollered in celebration and got an extra moment for photos once the popemobile stopped so Leo could bless a couple of babies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over just four days this month, Milei, an avid user of X, wrote 86 posts taunting and insulting journalists, according to an analysis of his feed between April 2 and 5 by prominent Argentine daily La Nación.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Late at night, the staff are known for insulting anyone brave enough to step up to the counter.—
Jimmy Jellinek,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While some celebrants have greeted these caricatures with cathartic jeers and sneers, others are shocked and outraged.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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