as in grimace
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
the man across the street never seems to wear anything but a scowl
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scowl
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
His victory was greeted as a new era of good government in Washington — the Carter smile a contrast to the scowl of Nixon.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2024
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for scowl 
Noun
The deep line at the bridge of his nose, caused by his permanent scowl, was erased.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
His victory was greeted as a new era of good government in Washington — the Carter smile a contrast to the scowl of Nixon.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
But rather than sporting a big smile and radiating festive cheer, Ferrell looked hilariously weary and unshaven, with an unlit cigarette dangling between his scowling lips.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for scowl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scowl
Noun
-
Where does anxiety come in? Usually through the fingertips and toes, exiting in involuntary grimaces and moans, especially around 2AM.—
Kristen Radtke,
The Verge,
24 Jan. 2025
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Associated with such grimaces were very fast upward swinging movements of the arms and alternate bending and straightening of each leg such that the right foot especially would stamp against the ground.—
Caitlyn Murphy,
Hazlitt,
13 Nov. 2024
Verb
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All of this is alarming consumer advocates and ethics experts, who say there is a glaring conflict of interest between the world’s richest person simultaneously presiding over the shutdown of the CFPB while also owning businesses that would benefit from weakened financial regulation.—
Matt Egan,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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Mayer paused and by his expression demonstrated, in turn, maternal kindness, sweetness, sacrifice and love, and then glared at Freed and me.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The old woman, though, stares at the screen, the shadow of a smile curled into her lips and a frown barely creasing her forehead.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2025
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Jean-Baptiste, her mouth set in a tight-lipped frown, her eyes ablaze with fear and loathing, soft-pedals nothing.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The king stares intently into an eternal distance through composite orbs fashioned from alabaster and glass, rendered in varying degrees of clarity, transparency and opacity.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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There are Super Bowl rookies staring around the place with eyes as wide as dinner plates (this reporter falls into that camp), there are members of the international media who have flown from around the world to be here.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near scowl
Cite this Entry
“Scowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scowl. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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