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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
I don't give a hoot whether you want to go or not—you're going
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hoot
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bina Daigeler’s costumes are a hoot, ostentatiously fashionable and expensive and sexy.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Noun
And among the supporting players, Woods is the most game of the wacky relatives, Qualley’s a hoot as an antagonistic presence, and Camp, a venerable character actor who’s always a great sight to see, is pretty much the heart of the movie.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bina Daigeler’s costumes are a hoot, ostentatiously fashionable and expensive and sexy.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
By February, the courtship hooting generally stops as the nesting process begins.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoot
Noun
-
The prologue that opens Ragtime loudly announces the musical’s epic ambitions as its nine fictional characters and six of its historical figures introduce themselves with third-person narration and shout-singing.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The shout of glee at the news that Christopher Kane is the new creative director at Mulberry was practically audible across London this morning.—
Sarah Mower,
Vogue,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soon come the snorts, the heavy body of a second hog tottering heavily from the hut.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
My parents have no idea what’s happening because legacy media is not reporting on anything worth a damn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Amid Swanson's screams, the deputy's Taser was knocked loose and came to a rest on the ground next to the two men, authorities said.—
Nicole Hensley,
Houston Chronicle,
20 Mar. 2026
-
At least Weaving has her scream and Newton, her impressive ability to take punishment.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sit in a deck chair and hoot and holler at skiers going by.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Those take-one-for-the-team moments had the Lakers’ reserves up and hollering.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cease insulting allies and encourage mediation by Pakistan and Turkey.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The characters don’t know, and the real-life writing staff, Fogelman seems to suggest, won’t insult our intelligence by pretending to.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s media-bashing, often a dull roar in the background, is an unusually loud howl right now.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoot. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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