scowl

1 of 2

verb

ˈskau̇(-ə)l

scowled; scowling; scowls

intransitive verb

: to contract the brow in an expression of displeasure

: to exhibit a threatening aspect

transitive verb

: to express with a scowl

scowler noun

scowlingly

ˈskau̇-liŋ-lē

adverb

scowl

2 of 2

noun

: a facial expression of displeasure : frown

Example Sentences

Verb scowled down at the misbehaving child Noun The teacher gave me a scowl when I walked in late. She responded to his question with a scowl.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This is before musical artists had to scowl in their pictures, or gaze into the distance.

John Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 But from that point forward, Straw Man Army — Owen Deutsch and Sean Fentress — refuses to fume, panic, scowl or proselytize.

Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 The first 40,000 fans in attendance Tuesday received a Muncy doll that featured the bearded slugger in his road grays, a batting helmet on his head and scowl on his face, pointing his left index finger angrily toward the sky.

Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2021 Every lip curl, scowl, and hip shake is precisely copied by Do-Nguyen, who was then 16 years old and shot most of the scenes cloaked in a blue Snuggie.

Zoe Haylock, Vulture, 10 May 2021 From the sidelines, coal firms will scowl at efforts to curb demand in Asia and oil drillers wince at support for electric cars.

The Economist, 18 Apr. 2021 Van Pelt wasn’t the only one who noticed that Mayfield had an early Steelers scowl on.

cleveland, 31 Dec. 2020 Some locals scowl in disbelief at the news that Kidd brings them, clinging stubbornly to their certainty that the future is theirs and theirs alone to determine.

Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2020 For instance, a hooked-nose face seen scowling from the upper level appears to suffer from Bell’s palsy.

San Antonio Express-News, 28 Mar. 2020

Noun

Shame on you, one scowl says, for having a weedy splotch of yellowing turf in a freedom-loving neighborhood where the conscientious sacrifice their Saturdays to crawling on hands and grass-stained knees in search of renegade dandelions.

Bob Sipchen, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2022 Jelly has a little extra skin over his eye that gives him a perpetual scowl.

Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Nov. 2022 If audiences don’t love Howie yet, Yang cinches it with his body language in this scene, projecting the character’s insecurity with nervous gestures and an Emma Stone scowl.

Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 May 2022 The schoolmaster was tall and thin with a hunched back and a deep scowl on his gaunt face.

Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 June 2022 Jen Psaki, hair pinned up rather than in her daily Bozo-red hanging do, and without her usual RBF scowl.

Armond White, National Review, 4 May 2022 Only Cherundolo now delivers that message with something closer to a smile than a scowl.

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2022 Some stories creep up in disguise, hiding a ghastly scowl.

Naveen Kumar, Variety, 17 Apr. 2022 The cat, which has developed a considerable following on social media, has grayish-white fur, yellow eyes ringed in black and a distinctive scowl on his face.

Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Feb. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scowl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.