HOWLS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

howls 1 of 2

noun

plural of howl

as in wails

a crying out in grief we had to endure the puppy's mournful howls on her first night in our house

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as in shouts

a loud vocal expression of strong emotion heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics

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as in roars

a violent shouting the crowd let out a howl of protest over the referee's call

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howls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of howl

as in shrieks

to make a long loud mournful sound several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down the wind howled on the open plain

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as in screams

to cry out loudly and emotionally the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

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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 howls

Noun

The howls of outrage from an undisclosed location in Europe reached our shores. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026 Their chorus of howls and yowls was all that kept them connected to the hunters who lagged far behind. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Somewhere in the heated mist hovered the howls of Albert Ayler and the clarion call of his brother Donald’s trumpet, followed by the Ornette Coleman Quartet, saluting him with joyous cacophony. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026 Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world. — Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026 Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus. — Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026 The Kremlin’s internet blackouts have raised howls among ordinary Russians as the regime tries to limit information on economic woes and soaring casualties in Ukraine. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 May 2026

Verb

The sharp howls after a patient traveling from abroad presented with a full-term fetal demise? — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026 At night, the coyote howls echo through the development keeping residents awake. — N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2026 This is the sort of pure 1980s batshit monologue that prompts both oh-my-Lord gasps and howls of laughter, and Neill nails the whole thing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 In the summer, the temperature is always above 100; in the winter, the wind howls and shakes our townhouse. — Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for howls

Noun

Memory tends to lose sound quickly, but even years later, Jake’s mother’s wails play with the same staccatos and double chords.

— Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026
Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Definition of wails

Noun

His final words drowned in a din of shouts and sparkling spray, as the Astros feted an aspiration fulfilled.

— Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026
Toho’s music team had been looking for international artists who could bring powerful shouts and melodic vocals in keeping with the show’s high-energy tone, which led to the Electric Callboy pairing.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of shouts

Noun

Trains rumble behind the main stadiums, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, while planes approaching and departing from La Guardia Airport bring their stomach-churning roars.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Exactly 60 years after Williams’ induction speech on the steps of the Hall of Fame, Baker walked into the Hall and was greeted by the loud roars of another Boston Red Sox legend, David Ortiz.

— Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of roars

Verb

Set the scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
The issue, of course, stems from the sound of rider screams from the coaster drifting into the residential area.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of screams

Noun

Messi added a fitting score — his 126th career goal for Argentina on a penalty kick in the 70th minute to set off collective chanting of the beloved icon’s name and more tears.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
In the other van, Gen cries tears of pride and fulfillment after Aesha and Nathan praise her performance in the last charter.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of tears

Noun

Lacking life detection equipment, the workers strained to hear their cries.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Each year on the night of September 15, Mexico’s president reenacts the famous grito from the National Palace in Mexico City, ringing the exact same bell Hidalgo did and leading the crowd in cries honoring the heroes of independence.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of cries

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howling

howls

hows

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“Howls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/howls. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of howls

noun

verb

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