Howling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈhau̇-liŋ/ howl·ing

Meaning & Definition of Howling

Howling (adjective)

  1. producing or marked by a sound resembling a howl
  2. desolate, wild
  3. very great, pronounced

Howling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in screaming, yelling

    similar: screaming, yelling, loudmouthed, noisy, open-mouthed, outspoken, vocal, caterwauling, clamant, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, yawping, yowling, blatant, obstreperous, strident, vociferous, cacophonous, dissonant, resounding, sonorous, clamorous, uproarious, blaring, booming, brassy, brazen, clanging, earsplitting, jangly, squealing, whining, whiny, yapping, yelping, nasal, penetrating, piercing, sharp
    opposite: calm, hushed, noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still, muffled, muted, softened, toned (down)

  2. as in crying, moaning

    similar: bawling, crying, groaning, keening, moaning, yammering, brokenhearted, careworn, crestfallen, forlorn, gloomy, glum, low-spirited, miserable, sad, triste, unhappy, woebegone, bleeding, suffering, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, tearful, black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gray, joyless, low, moody, morbid, morose, pathetic, pessimistic, piteous, saturnine, somber, sullen, wretched, dirgelike, elegiac, melancholy, aching, agonized, anguished, bemoaning, bewailing, bitter, deploring, doleful, dolesome, dolorous, funeral, grieving, heartbroken, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, plangent, regretful, rueful, sorrowful, sorry, wailing, weeping, woeful
    opposite: delighted, exulting, glorying, happy, joyful, rejoicing, triumphant, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, laughing, smiling, blissful, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly, joyous, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, encouraging, hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, elated, euphoric, exhilarated, giddy, heady, rapturous, rhapsodic

Howling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: baying, keening, ululating, wailing, yowling
    related: bawling, caterwauling, screaming, screeching, shrieking, shrilling, squalling, squealing, yawping, yelling, yelping

  2. to cry out loudly and emotionally

    "the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him"

    similar: screaming, screeching, shrieking, shrilling, squalling, squealing, yelling, yelping
    related: baying, caterwauling, keening, squawking, wailing, yawping, yowling, bawling, calling, crying, hollering, shouting, thundering, vociferating
    near: murmuring, muttering, whispering

Related Entry: Howl (verb)

Howl is a different word from Howling. The synonyms below are for howl, not for howling.

  1. 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"

    similar: bay, keen, ululate, wail, yowl
    related: bawl, caterwaul, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeal, yawp, yell, yelp

  2. to cry out loudly and emotionally

    "the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him"

    similar: scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeal, yell, yelp
    related: bay, caterwaul, keen, squawk, wail, yawp, yowl, bawl, call, cry, holler, shout, thunder, vociferate
    near: murmur, mutter, whisper

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Howling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Howling:

screaming, yelling, loudmouthed, noisy, open-mouthed, outspoken, vocal, caterwauling, clamant, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, yawping, yowling, blatant, obstreperous, strident, vociferous, cacophonous, dissonant, resounding, sonorous, clamorous, uproarious, blaring, booming, brassy, brazen, clanging, earsplitting, jangly, squealing, whining, whiny, yapping, yelping, nasal, penetrating, piercing, sharp

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Howling

Words with the opposite meaning of Howling:

calm, hushed, noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still, muffled, muted, softened, toned (down), delighted, exulting, glorying, happy, joyful, rejoicing, triumphant, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, laughing, smiling, blissful, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, jocund, jolly

Related Words for Howling

calling, hollering, shouting, thundering

Near Antonyms of Howling

murmuring, muttering, whispering

Word Forms of Howling

Derived words: howlingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Howling

First known use: 1599

Frequently Asked Questions about Howling

What does "Howling" mean?

"Howling" means producing or marked by a sound resembling a howl. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: producing or marked by a sound resembling a howl. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Howling"?

Other words for "Howling" include screaming, yelling, loudmouthed, noisy, open-mouthed, outspoken, vocal and caterwauling. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Howling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Howling"?

There are 132 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Howling". Common alternatives include screaming, yelling, loudmouthed, noisy, open-mouthed, outspoken, vocal, caterwauling, clamant and squawking.

What is the opposite of "Howling"?

Antonyms of "Howling" include calm, hushed, noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still and muffled. Near antonyms include murmuring, muttering and whispering.

How do you use "Howling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Howling" in a sentence: "several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down"; "the wind howled on the open plain"; "the boy howled in pain when his baby sister bit him".

Is "Howling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Howling" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Howling"?

"Howling" is pronounced /ˈhau̇-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as howl·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Howling"?

First known use: 1599.