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View synonyms for frown

frown

[ froun ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to contract the brow, as in displeasure or deep thought; scowl.

    Synonyms: gloom, lower, glower

  2. to look displeased; have an angry look.
  3. to view with disapproval; look disapprovingly (usually followed by on or upon ):

    to frown upon a scheme.



verb (used with object)

  1. to express by a frown:

    to frown one's displeasure.

  2. to force or shame with a disapproving frown:

    to frown someone into silence.

noun

  1. a frowning look; scowl.
  2. any expression or show of disapproval:

    a tax bill that received Congressional frowns.

frown

/ fraʊn /

verb

  1. intr to draw the brows together and wrinkle the forehead, esp in worry, anger, or concentration
  2. intr; foll by on or upon to have a dislike (of); look disapprovingly (upon)

    the club frowned upon political activity by its members

  3. tr to express (worry, etc) by frowning
  4. troften foll bydown to force, silence, etc, by a frowning look
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. the act of frowning
  2. a show of dislike or displeasure
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈfrowningly, adverb
  • ˈfrowner, noun
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Other Words From

  • frowner noun
  • frowning·ly adverb
  • half-frowning adjective
  • half-frowning·ly adverb
  • un·frowning adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of frown1

1350–1400; Middle English frounen < Old French froignier, derivative of froigne surly expression, probably < Gaulish *frognā; compare Welsh ffroen, Old Breton fron nostril, Old Irish srón nose < Celtic *srognā or *sroknā
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Word History and Origins

Origin of frown1

C14: from Old French froigner , of Celtic origin; compare Welsh ffroen nostril, Middle Breton froan
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Example Sentences

A deep frown will definitely take more muscles to pull off than a faint smile.

It also depends on how you define a frown or a smile, he says.

Surprisingly, that’s enough facial real estate to tell a sneer from a smile, or a laugh from a frown.

In the 1980s, Jean and Alastair Carruthers, a Canadian ophthalmologist and dermatologist, accidentally discovered the toxin’s anti-aging properties when they noticed patients receiving injections for facial spasm were also losing their frown lines.

“Lilly… Ledbetter…” we whisper to ourselves as we frown at men.

Early the next morning, “Frown,” Jai Johany Johnson, is living up to his nickname in the hotel restaurant.

We watched her float about, a meandering frown, for two whole hours in the season premiere as she mourned the death of Matthew.

I made choices that took me down a path that many people frown upon.

Traditional matchmakers, eager to distinguish themselves from a dating service, would frown on this feature.

The tiny frown reappeared between her eyes, lingered a trifle longer than before, and vanished.

His brows came together in a frown, from which the Seneschal argued that his suggestion was not well received.

In fact, so much of her smooth brow as could be seen under a broad-brimmed straw hat was wrinkled in a decided frown.

Old David Arden stepped back a little, growing pale, with a sudden frown.

A frown momentarily darkened the cloudless brow of Aristide Pujol.

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