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
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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 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:
We were shortly joined by her brother, who kept a scowl on his face as we spoke.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
But it was his grittiest—and that’s all Indiana needed for its famously stony coach to drop the scowl.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
It shows Bryant with a fierce scowl on his face.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2025
Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, stood a half-step behind, mimicking his client’s scowl.
From New York Times ● May 30, 2024
This whole day has been a lot, and even Dad’s signature scowl would make Scoob feel more stable.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
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
After opening the flaps, Molly lifts out a mustard-colored coat, and Vivian scowls.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
She scowled as I apologized and picked up the deodorants we knocked over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2023
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
Most Chileans knew her as the “gray, ugly, boring old lady,” who scowled at them from the bank note, said Maria Elena Wood, a filmmaker who made a documentary about Mistral in 2011.
From New York Times ● Jan. 28, 2023
In the crowd, John Ward folded his arms across his chest and scowled.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 13, 2022
She scowled at him briefly, but otherwise said nothing.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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
Then I imagine those taunting smiles fading away as a pack of scowling hybrids show up to help me.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
