scowl

American  

[skoul] / skaʊl /

verb (used without object)

1. to draw down or contract the brows in a sullen, displeased, or angry manner.

   Synonyms:

   glare, lower, frown

2. to have a gloomy or threatening look.

   Synonyms:

   gloom, glower

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verb (used with object)

1. to affect or express with a scowl.

noun

1. a scowling expression, look, or aspect.

scowl British  

/ skaʊl /

verb

1. (intr) to contract the brows in a threatening or angry manner

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noun

1. a gloomy or threatening expression

Other Word Forms

• scowler noun
• scowlful adjective
• scowlingly adverb
• unscowling adjective
• unscowlingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of scowl

1300–50; Middle English scoulen (v.); perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Danish skule to scowl, Norwegian skule to look furtively, though these may be < Low German schūlen to spy

Example Sentences

Mom tries not to scowl, but Maggie can see it starting to bend her face.

From Literature

He scowls, looks at me like I just suggested we play checkers instead of Scrabble.

From Literature

He scowled as he took it, peeved by this unsettling reversal of roles.

From Literature

With his practiced executive scowl and scripted boardroom catchphrase, “You’re fired!,” the show burnished his image as a decisive billionaire dealmaker, even as his real-life business results were far less impressive.

From Los Angeles Times

An AI-generated image soon circulated of Underwood’s familiar scowl—only this time, he was wearing an orange tracksuit in front of an Soviet-style apartment complex looking every bit an Eastern bloc taskmaster.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• glare
• glower
• grimace