scowl
Americanverb (used without object)
-
scowls,
present (3rd person singular)
-
scowled,
past participle, past
-
scowling
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
scowls,
present (3rd person singular)
-
scowled,
past participle, past
-
scowling
present participle
noun
-
scowls
plural
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
scowlsimple
-
scowlssimple
-
have scowledperfect
-
has scowledperfect
-
am scowlingprogressive
-
are scowlingprogressive
-
is scowlingprogressive
-
have been scowlingperfect progressive
-
has been scowlingperfect progressive
Past
-
scowledsimple
-
had scowledperfect
-
was scowlingprogressive
-
were scowlingprogressive
-
had been scowlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scowl
1300–50; Middle English scoulen (v.); perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish skule to scowl, Norwegian skule to look furtively, though these may be < Low German schūlen to spy
Explanation
When you scowl you make an angry face. The angry face you make is also called a scowl. Lighten up. Scowl is an expressive word: it shares "ow" with frown, and if you say it like you mean it you might end up scowling yourself. Being scowled at is more unsettling than being frowned at. A scowl is like an angry frown you would give someone if you disapproved of them. A frown expresses sadness, but a scowl expresses disdain.
Vocabulary lists containing scowl
The Lingo of Body Language
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"The Ravine," Vocabulary from the short story
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Some scowl or stare blankly at the camera.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
For every great Statham movie — “Spy,” “Snatch,” “Crank” and its even better sequel — he makes three clunkers that task him merely to scowl and punch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
We were shortly joined by her brother, who kept a scowl on his face as we spoke.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
CNN reported that, as Daniels spoke, Trump was "looking straight ahead with a scowl on his face."
From Salon ● May 7, 2024
He led them on a march through the beautiful city on the water, over bridges, through squares, pushing through crowds who turned to stare at their wet clothes and Nighthand’s scowl.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
He has no choice but to ask his neighbors for help, and weather the disapproving scowls of Clive, who suggests that Leo give him a key.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Until the most recent episode, though, Alice’s entire personality has been scowls and deprecating hisses.
From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026
Gone are the decades of scowls, railing against officials, getting in the face of players, snapping at reporters.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 7, 2023
And when he’s not forcing a smile, he reflexively scowls.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2023
He scowls and squirms in the chair, and through gritted teeth says, “Four.”
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
But if fans expect to see the tough guy in the black wrestling trunks, black leather vest with a scowled face while he’s learning new jobs, they might be disappointed.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 28, 2023
Some purists might have scowled at the time, but the effect was undeniable.
From New York Times ● Aug. 25, 2022
In the crowd, John Ward folded his arms across his chest and scowled.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 13, 2022
He scowled and he prowled and he overwhelmed hitters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2021
Uncle Kufa scowled, but he didn’t say anything more.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
He will continue appearing on television on behalf of the White House, scowling at critics and assuring the public that the administration has never been more unified.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
Next was coach Mike Vrabel, an upbeat former Belichick player determined to win without scowling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
In September, Japan's Nintendo marked four decades since the release of the first "Super Mario Bros." game with its platforms, pipes and scowling enemies.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025
Combative and scowling, a news conference after a semi-final win in the Champions Trophy in March became a 20-minute argument.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2025
Nok kept her distance so no one could see her scowling.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
