as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
the man across the street never seems to wear anything but a scowl
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Recent Examples of scowl
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Laura Dern’s scowl is one of the great wonders of American movies.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Will Leitch, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scowl
Noun
One of the series’ most creative elements is the variety of scowls Graham deploys while arguing with Hezekiah, Mary, or his younger brother, Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), a pragmatic family man who represents everything Sugar’s life could have been if he weren’t filled with so much self-loathing.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Laura Dern’s scowl is one of the great wonders of American movies.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Part of me believes that, if Indiana wins, Cignetti should retire after this season and spend the rest of his life on a beach, scowling at resort attendants and being basically unimpeachable forever.
—Will Leitch, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl
Noun
-
Not a quiver in his lips, yet his frown growing.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Dec. 2025
-
My best friend Russell is an acupuncturist, and seemed like the perfect person to place my tape, slapping it on my frown lines, crow’s-feet, and nasolabial folds.—
Lena Dunham,
Vogue,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
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From coast to coast, local governments are grappling with the glaring public transportation question.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Gas prices are higher in Arizona by more than a dollar from a year before, and the spike was glaring in metro Phoenix where the average price of regular gasoline was quickly inching to $5 per gallon.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
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After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Researchers placed food near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Food was placed near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Barcelona, created by a small group of rock-and-roll writers from Buenos Aires, approached news stories from Argentina and around the world with a smirk.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2026
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Gates, no relation to Antonio, offers a shrug and a smirk.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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