as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
like many kids during summer vacation, they were caterwauling about the lack of things to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in yowl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of caterwaul
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023
An ambulance caterwauled down Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel one block below.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Until Ivey and the Department of Corrections can explain how the prison construction program caterwauled out of control, lawmakers should put the brakes on all state spending.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 17 Mar. 2023
Republicans could caterwaul about the skyrocketing debt without actually having to do anything about it except express their disapproval. Getting most creative.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 29 Sep. 2021
In a season of a lively baseball, the Twins hit a silly number of home runs and came caterwauling out of the great north and took their division.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2019
The media–Democrat caterwauling over Trump’s election-rigging spiel was not rooted in patriotic commitment to the American democratic tradition of accepting election outcomes.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 16 Aug. 2019
Media outlets that caterwaul about all this become the victims of commercial crises.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
This lets Congress caterwaul on behalf of special interests while blaming Presidents for not punishing foreigners.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 June 2018
Verb
That said, Shelton’s lyrics are much more darkly relatable and heartbreaking than someone caterwauling about being their own worst enemy.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023
An ambulance caterwauled down Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel one block below.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022
Until Ivey and the Department of Corrections can explain how the prison construction program caterwauled out of control, lawmakers should put the brakes on all state spending.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 17 Mar. 2023
Republicans could caterwaul about the skyrocketing debt without actually having to do anything about it except express their disapproval. Getting most creative.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 29 Sep. 2021
In a season of a lively baseball, the Twins hit a silly number of home runs and came caterwauling out of the great north and took their division.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2019
The media–Democrat caterwauling over Trump’s election-rigging spiel was not rooted in patriotic commitment to the American democratic tradition of accepting election outcomes.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 16 Aug. 2019
Media outlets that caterwaul about all this become the victims of commercial crises.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
This lets Congress caterwaul on behalf of special interests while blaming Presidents for not punishing foreigners.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 7 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caterwaul
Verb
-
Girding for battle at USC Pay is at the center of union organizing at USC, where non-tenure track professors complain of semester-to-semester contracts with little job security, minimal or nonexistent raises and moves by the university to cut benefits.Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
-
If corporate leaders complain about these directives’ effects on their bottom lines, Trump’s team could force CISA to scale back its use of this authority.Eric Geller, WIRED, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The guitar riffs recall how Mastodon sounded circa Leviathan, paired with Blythe’s inimitable yowls.Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024
-
The cat sometimes unleashed a penetrating yowl that reminded Ducrot of her husband’s final days.Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
Verb
-
Thousands of fans from all over the world tuned in to these unofficial livestreams every night of the tour, commenting, screaming, and searching for Swift Easter eggs together — and thus creating a sense of community and joy rivaled only by the vibes of an actual concert.Lauren Huff, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
-
After the tour, Litton is believed to have walked towards the bathroom, which is when staff reportedly began to hear gunshots and screaming, the sheriff said.Nicole Acosta, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Phill Simon and his family were sleeping in their Glen Park home when the screech of tornado alerts going off on their phones woke them up.Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 14 Dec. 2024
-
The climax is protracted but darkly thrilling: ugly secrets spill into the open, winged monkeys screech and scatter, and Elphaba comes into full possession of her powers.Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Dodgers Plaschke: Baseball fans can whine, but there’s nothing wrong with the way the Dodgers are winning Dec. 4, 2024 Plate discipline has also been a strength for Conforto, who drew 84 walks in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons for the Mets.Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Loughlin should show respect, not expect special privileges and not whine about her case.Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
There also isn't a dry forehead in the studio, as the tough session has left them all moaning and groaning.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
-
Everything seems fine and dandy until nightfall, when Nana spends her evenings crawling around on her hands and knees and moaning.James Grebey, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
There’s no dialogue, at least none decipherable to human ears — everything is a symphony of meows, woofs, squawks, grunts, squeaks, squeals and simian cries.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Flocks of sparrows and parrots chirp and squawk in the palms overhead.Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 9 June 2024
Noun
-
But for a few hours a day, the 4-month-old pygmy hippo springs to life, gumming on leaves, zooming around the compound and tossing her head in a silent, open-mouthed roar.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
-
The roars that greet Ohio State’s three-and-out to start the game double as an enormous exhale.Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near caterwaul
Cite this Entry
“Caterwaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caterwaul. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share