hoot 1 of 2

1
as in shout
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort to the lawyer's arrogant remark

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2
as in snort
a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking until he'd had his say

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3
4
as in scream
someone or something that is very funny that stand-up comic is a hoot

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hoot

2 of 2

verb

Example 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 hoot
Noun
Parker Posey plays Tim’s wife, Victoria, a brassy belle who thinks everything her children do is a hoot. Noel Murray, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025 Those rules are broken and the results are messy, monstrous and metaphorical in a hilariously jaw-dropping hoot about beauty and self-worth. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
Those tend to not have much applause or anybody hooting and hollering. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025 That day in April, as the moon crossed between the sun and Earth, causing a total solar eclipse, the quiet erupted into hooting and hollering. Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
  • Furrowed brows, smiles, shouts and tears occupied the faces of passionate protesters, who bellowed chants that echoed off the concrete sky-rise buildings.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2025
  • On the basketball court below, players’ shouts reverberate off the walls, as a banana vendor ambles along the baseline.
    Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Some friends prescribed a healthy snort of bourbon and a trip to the doctor.
    Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
  • There was always laughter, followed up by an occasional snort sometimes!
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Since the death of Tom Petty meant an end to his primary job in 2017, Tench has still been visible in the background as a member of the house band in practically any tribute show that’s worth a damn.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Continue reading … 'STEELE' THE SHOW – MSNBC host demands Democrats start giving a ‘damn’ about Trump, Musk in fiery rant.
    Fox News, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • At less visible moments, their whispers and screams change the word one artwork at a time.
    Keyaira Boone, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
  • More importantly, not only will every other part of your new CLE scream AMG, but the car cover and fuel cap will, too.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the end of the run-through the audience whoops and hollers, clapping, whistling, and stomping their feet.
    Jeffrey Seller, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Never mind that these dudes are whooping, hollering and jumping up and down in a state of hormonal overload, all over a music video resembling a cheesy ’80s aerobics instructional.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the report highlighted, culture wars are about both sides attempting to impose their will by personally insulting others who hold opposing viewpoints, seeking ways to cancel the social and professional lifestyles of others, and preventing others from participating in public debates.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The idea of an entertainer with no political experience who could win people over by insulting opponents and misbehaving hit just too close to home.
    Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Despite the show's ruminations revolving around Dorian's ego, there is no vanity in this performance where Snook sweats, sneers, and dashes across stage.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • One is Giovanni Battista Moroni’s Portrait of a Woman (ca. 1575), in which a leery-eyed woman stares down at her viewer, pressing her lips into the faintest of sneers.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The show also begged us to care one whit about Nick’s secret romance with… Jessica’s sister!!!
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The lack of logic Trump’s fun-house version of justice may not matter a whit to voters, or alter even slightly their perceptions of the two major parties.
    Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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