frown 1 of 2

noun

Definition of frownnext
as in scowl
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval it was clear from the frown on the CEO's face that sales were headed in the wrong direction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

frown

2 of 2

verb

ˈfrau̇n How to pronounce frown (audio)
as in to scowl
to look with anger or disapproval the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble

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 frown
Noun
No smiles, no frowns, no fluctuations of body warmth. — Literary Hub, 8 June 2026 Don’t Kill Reach with External Links Like any business that makes money from advertising, LinkedIn frowns upon directing people away from LinkedIn to another site. — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
Back in February, just before the NFL officially announced the 49ers would open this season here against the Los Angeles Rams, McCaffrey frowned on such a historically long trip. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026 Like a growing number of French seaside resorts, it's not only frowned upon; you can be fined. — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frown
  1. scowl
  2. glare
  3. grimace
  4. stare
  5. smirk
Noun
  • For the role, Depp shaved off his signature mustache and goatee, and adopted Scrooge’s signature scowl.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Behind his graying beard, his expression crackled between a scowl and a mad grin.
    — Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of scowl
Verb
  • But the data gap was particularly glaring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, potentially missing 75% of the population, according to a recent paper co-authored by CDC statisticians.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Tensions over the Middle East Another glaring issue the two leaders could discuss is the widening conflict in the Middle East.
    — Mariam Khan, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glare
Noun
  • During his cross-examination, the pain became obvious in McDonald’s grimace.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the fifth inning, Soto fouled a ball off his right leg, eliciting a grimace from him and attention from both an athletic trainer and Green.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of grimace
Verb
  • With the Seminoles staring at the end zone from the 4-yard line, Daniels faked the pitch left, kept the football and charged straight up the middle, steamrolling through Virginia safety Christian Ellis before crashing into the end zone.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stranger stared at him in mute disappointment, then turned and went out.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stare
Noun
  • Shawn Still explains the smirk in his Fulton County booking photo.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Arnold met her gaze almost instantly across UConn’s five-foot table swarmed with cameras and microphones and returned the smirk.
    — Jake McCreven, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of smirk

Phrases Containing frown

Browse Nearby Words

frowardness
frown
frown (at or on)
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Cite this Entry

“Frown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frown. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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