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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in roars
a violent shouting
the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of howls
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
But listen carefully as the howls of anger and anguish are even louder coming out of Philly and Beantown.
—Bill Madden, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
As the howls got louder, the mother eagle woke up.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Each dish and recipe howls with a common sense of place.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Karen howls in a video Kaley posted to Instagram as a teenager.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Hip holidaying friends, those who don’t want to share their trip with babies’ howls, and golfers looking for an element of cool (guests have access to all the facilities at the other Costa Navarino hotels such as golf courses and the Mouratoglou tennis academy).
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Listening to Alan Vega, these rockers’ influence on his signature howls and croons becomes obvious.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
From the booth, Lyons Township announcer Aidan Brandstedt howls, overcome with excitement.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 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
But listen carefully as the howls of anger and anguish are even louder coming out of Philly and Beantown.
—Bill Madden, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
As the howls got louder, the mother eagle woke up.
—Lauren Linder, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Each dish and recipe howls with a common sense of place.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Karen howls in a video Kaley posted to Instagram as a teenager.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Hip holidaying friends, those who don’t want to share their trip with babies’ howls, and golfers looking for an element of cool (guests have access to all the facilities at the other Costa Navarino hotels such as golf courses and the Mouratoglou tennis academy).
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Listening to Alan Vega, these rockers’ influence on his signature howls and croons becomes obvious.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
From the booth, Lyons Township announcer Aidan Brandstedt howls, overcome with excitement.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for howls
Noun
-
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.—
Mike McFeely,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lane uses his loud, outside voice to excellent effect, his shouts of exasperation and anger giving way to instant regret and recrimination.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
There were no roars of restaurant chatter and excitement from happy guests.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Most of the time, the creature is invisible, only given away by roars or its footprints in the soil of this extra-terrestrial world.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing about this neighborhood screams blockbuster.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
In the clip, the ride suddenly falls down with her phone dropping to the ground, and screams can be heard in the background in the seconds after the collapse.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
McEntire, Stefani and Legend were brought to tears by Carter's emotional performance.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Tatum also knows the value of peer support after leaning on players like Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Dejounte Murray — all of whom suffered Achilles tears last season — during his recovery.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After football killed 19 college players in 1905, Roosevelt resisted cries to outlaw the game and supported rule changes.—
Steve Doerschuk,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first clip showed Duff making cat and bird noises as Townes, who turns 2 on May 3, played with her hair and smiled at the camera.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus sundry hallucinations, bad dreams, possession, dark spaces, creepy noises, fraught family relations — and, as with so many horror stories, a bad thing in the past bringing down the future.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Howls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howls. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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