growl
to utter a deep guttural sound of anger or hostility: The dog growled at the mail carrier.
to murmur or complain angrily; grumble.
to rumble: The thunder growled.
Jazz. to use flutter-tonguing in playing a wind instrument.
to express by growling.
the act or sound of growling.
Jazz. the technique of flutter-tonguing.
Origin of growl
1synonym study For growl
Other words from growl
- growl·ing·ly, adverb
- un·der·growl, noun
- un·growl·ing, adjective
Words Nearby growl
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use growl in a sentence
He confronts the indignities of old age with a surly, comforting growl.
Cry Macho Is Pure Clint Eastwood—and That's Mostly a Good Thing | Stephanie Zacharek | September 17, 2021 | TimeHer organ is more immediate, its low register getting down to a subterranean growl.
Alice Coltrane is finally heralded as a jazz great. A new reissue doesn’t do her justice. | Andy Beta | July 9, 2021 | Washington PostIn a debate, he waved a “Trumpy bear” on his Zoom camera, with an accompanying growl.
The Trailer: "The new Democratic Party": What we learned (and what we don't know yet) from New York's primary | David Weigel | June 24, 2021 | Washington PostAt other times Noseda dispenses with language altogether, deploying guttural growls and yat-dat-dat-daaaaa’s until he gets what he’s after, which, in the case of the 40th, is propulsion.
Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra reunite, and it’s a joyful noise | Michael Andor Brodeur | March 11, 2021 | Washington PostFor true grit, the Unlimited Rubicon 392—at a pricey $60,000—boasts a stunning 470-hp V8 Hemi engine, muscular cladding and four tailpipes pumping out a heady exhaust growl.
Students moan and growl and shriek and yawp, as if exorcising demons in a ritualistic ceremony.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze | Lizzie Crocker | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTShe smiles, which sounds like a small thing, but a lot of Republicans growl.
With Ernst and Gardner, Republicans Think They’ve Found the Formula | Eleanor Clift | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA whimpering, half-growl and curdled scream, a cornered-animal cry of a sound.
The ‘Hunted’ Gays of Putin’s Russia: Vicious Vigilantes and State Bigotry Close Up | Tim Teeman | October 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt least, while Hasselbeck was there, viewers had a figure they could collectively growl at.
Columnists write that we must make it more relevant, while politicians growl about making it more efficient.
Again they heard the growl much nearer than before, and it became evident that the lion was intent on claiming hospitality.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneSo with a fearful growl, and a bark that might have frightened a lion, Bravo made a leap and a spring after poor little Downy.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1 | Various“But we ought to pony up the money for his support like good sports,” said Darry, continuing to growl.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret PenroseLawrence made no answer, and with a curse and a growl the guerrillas turned away.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnThe bears growl in stupefaction and rage, and take deep breaths to begin again.
British Dictionary definitions for growl
/ (ɡraʊl) /
(of animals, esp when hostile) to utter (sounds) in a low inarticulate manner: the dog growled at us
to utter (words) in a gruff or angry manner: he growled an apology
(intr) to make sounds suggestive of an animal growling: the thunder growled around the lake
the act or sound of growling
jazz an effect resembling a growl, produced at the back of the throat when playing a wind instrument
Origin of growl
1Derived forms of growl
- growlingly, adverb
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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