Synonyms of howl

howl 1 of 2

noun

1

as in wail

a crying out in grief

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wail
• cry
• tears
• groan
• lamentation
• moan
• mourning
• lament
• weeping
• keen
• plaint
• sob
• suffering
• protest
• regret
• outcry
• sorrow
• anguish
• grief
• sorrowing
• grieving
• complaint
• heartbreak
• woe
• heartache
• agonizing
• hand-wringing
• cri de coeur
• dolor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exultation
• rejoicing
• smiling
• laughing
• cheering

2

as in shout

a loud vocal expression of strong emotion

heard howls of laughter from the children watching the clown's silly antics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shout
• cry
• scream
• shriek
• squeal
• yell
• roar
• holler
• yowl
• whoop
• hoot
• yelp
• screech
• squeak
• shrill
• wail
• outcry
• bellow
• interjection
• clamor
• ejaculation
• squall
• bawl
• caterwaul
• plaint

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• murmur
• mutter
• whisper
• gasp
• mumble
• whimper

3

as in roar

a violent shouting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roar
• noise
• outcry
• clamor
• hue and cry
• vociferation
• tumult
• hubbub
• racket
• hullabaloo
• uproar
• din
• protest
• jangle
• outburst
• clangor
• cri de coeur

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rumble
• murmur
• rumbling
• murmuring
• mumble
• mumbling

howl

2 of 2

verb

ˈhau̇(-ə)l 

1

as in to shriek

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shriek
• scream
• wail
• yell
• bay
• yowl
• squeal
• ululate
• shrill
• screech
• keen
• yelp
• squall
• caterwaul
• bawl
• yawp
• yaup

2

as in to scream

to cry out loudly and emotionally

the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shriek
• scream
• squeal
• yell
• cry
• shrill
• screech
• yelp
• squall
• wail
• shout
• squawk
• yowl
• caterwaul
• bay
• thunder
• holler
• keen
• bawl
• yawp
• yaup
• vociferate
• call

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whisper
• murmur
• mutter

Examples of howl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As her anger at his ineptitude grows, along with her sense of isolation and loss of sense of self, Mother undergoes a baffling transformation, seemingly becoming (at least in her own mind) a dog who runs through the streets of suburbia at night, howling at the moon. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2024

Hurricane Milton howled across the Florida Peninsula on Thursday, and Hoosiers have spent this week checking in on friends and family in the Sunshine State. —Christopher Cann, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024

Hurricane Milton howled across the Florida Peninsula on Thursday, and Kentucky residents have spent this week checking in on friends and family in the Sunshine State. —Christopher Cann, The Courier-Journal, 11 Oct. 2024

Guitarist Joe Duplantier howled the lyrics like a man possessed (or something more demonic) with a brooding magnetism duly reinforced by dressing all in black. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024