Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scowls, present participle scowling, past tense, past participle scowled
verb
When someone scowls, an angry or hostile expression appears on their face.
He scowled, and slammed the door behind him. [VERB]
She scowled at the two men as they entered the room. [VERB + at]
Synonyms: glower, frown, look daggers, grimace More Synonyms of scowl
Scowl is also a noun.
Chris met the remark with a scowl.
More Synonyms of scowl
scowl in British English
(skaʊl)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to contract the brows in a threatening or angry manner
noun
2.
a gloomy or threatening expression
Word origin
C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Danish skule to look down, Old English scūlēgede squint-eyed
scowl in American English
(skaʊl)
verb intransitive
1.
to contract the eyebrows and lower the corners of the mouth in showing displeasure; look angry, irritated, or sullen
2.
to have a threatening look; lower
verb transitive
3.
to affect, influence, or express with a scowl or scowls
noun
4.
the act or expression of scowling; angry frown
5.
a threatening aspect
Derived forms
scowler (ˈscowler)
noun
Word origin
ME scoulen, prob. < Scand, as in Dan skule, in same sense, akin to MHG schulen, to be hidden, lurk < IE *(s)kulo-, concealment < base *(s)keu-, to cover
Examples of 'scowl' in a sentence
scowl
He soon had a scowl on his face.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If it looks at you it seems to be frowning or scowling.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An old lady with a scowling face, muttering to herself.
Christianity Today (2000)
His foot should stamp, his throat should growl, his hair should twirl and his face should scowl.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If there is anything more pleasing than a man in a suit with a scowl on his face, we can't think of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A costume assistant rushed over to clean her up - but couldn't wipe the scowl off her face.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
scowl
British English: scowl VERB
When someone scowls, an angry or hostile expression appears on their face.
He scowled, and slammed the door behind him.
American English: scowl
Brazilian Portuguese: franzir a testa
Chinese: 作怒容
European Spanish: fruncir el ceño
French: se renfrogner
German: finster dreinblicken
Italian: accigliarsi
Japanese: 顔をしかめる
Korean: 얼굴을 찌푸리다
European Portuguese: franzir a testa
Latin American Spanish: fruncir el ceño
Chinese translation of 'scowl'
scowl
(skaul)
vi
横(橫)眉怒目 (héng méi nù mù)
n(c)
怒容 (nùróng)
to scowl at sb怒视(視)某人 (nùshì mǒurén)
(verb)
Definition
to have an angry or bad-tempered facial expression
She scowled at the two men as they entered the room.
Synonyms
glower
He glowered at me but said nothing.
frown
He frowned at her anxiously.
look daggers
grimace
She started to sit up, grimaced with pain, and sank back.
lour or lower
(noun)
Definition
an angry or bad-tempered facial expression
He met the remark with a scowl.
Synonyms
glower
His frown deepened into a glower of resentment.
frown
a deep frown on the boy's face
dirty look
black look
grimace
He took another drink of his coffee. `Awful,' he said with a grimace.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of frown
Definition
to wrinkle one's brows in worry, anger, or concentration
He frowned at her anxiously.
Synonyms
scowl,
glare,
glower,
make a face,
look daggers,
knit your brows,
give a dirty look,
lour or lower
in the sense of frown
Definition
a look of disapproval or displeasure
a deep frown on the boy's face
Synonyms
scowl,
glare,
glower,
dirty look
in the sense of grimace
Definition
to make a grimace
She started to sit up, grimaced with pain, and sank back.
Synonyms
scowl,
frown,
sneer,
wince,
lour or lower,
make a face or faces
Nearby words of
scowl
scout
scout around or round
scout something out
scowl
scrabble
scraggy
scram
Synonyms of 'scowl'
scowl
Explore 'scowl' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grimace
Definition
an ugly or distorted facial expression of disgust, pain, or displeasure
He took another drink of his coffee. `Awful,' he said with a grimace.