scowl

1 of 2

verb

ˈskau̇(-ə)l 

scowled; scowling; scowls

intransitive verb

1

: to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure

2

: to exhibit a threatening aspect

transitive verb

: to express with a scowl

scowler noun

scowlingly

ˈskau̇-liŋ-lē 

adverb

scowl

2 of 2

noun

: a facial expression of displeasure : frown

Synonyms

Verb

• frown
• glare
• gloom
• glower
• lower
• lour

Noun

• face
• frown
• grimace
• lower
• lour
• moue
• mouth
• mow
• mug
• pout
• snoot

Examples of scowl in a Sentence

Verb

scowled down at the misbehaving child

Noun

The teacher gave me a scowl when I walked in late.

She responded to his question with a scowl.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But no one's prepared to sit there and yell across the table at some other person while Tom Selleck is sitting at the head of the table scowling at you. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Dali wore a black puffer jacket with a gold zipper at her arraignment in Brooklyn Federal Court, scowling at collected media in the gallery and repeatedly whispering to her lawyer, Michael Schneider, of the Federal Defenders. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 2024

Noun

Unlike a regular low-budget diner, sitting at an empty booth gave you scowls and little or no service. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Oct. 2024

The New Orleans rapper was shirtless in both photos, sporting an incredulous expression in the first and an angry scowl in the second. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English skoulen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish skule to scowl

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scowl

1 of 2 verb

ˈskau̇(ə)l 

1

: to make a frowning expression of displeasure

2

: to exhibit or express with a scowl

scowler noun

scowlingly

ˈskau̇-liŋ-lē 

adverb

scowl

2 of 2 noun

: an expression of displeasure on the face : frown