😭 A loud cry 🏆 Very successful

howling

11 4.1

A long loud cry that shows strong feeling

noun
/ˈhaʊlɪŋ/

: aullido

"Somewhere out in the drifts, a wolf yipped, his mournful howling carrying on the wind.
howling of a dog
howling of the wind
sound of howling

So like this coyote's howling, I look up and that thing is still there.

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Examples

I wrap my legs around Donnato and scream his name into the howling abyss.

Fiction book (1994)
The trees begin to sway as a howling wind rushes through them.

Fiction book (1990)
The pain brought darkness, but my howling screams forced my eyes to remain open.
Five, ten, then a flood of howling warriors burst through the camp.

Fiction book (1992)
At the second-floor door, an infant's howling mixed in with the radio.

Fiction book (1990)
The accompaniment of the howling in the distant hills made the sight even more eerie and chilling.

Fiction book (1992)
Within minutes, a deafening roar of "sobs," "groans," "screeches," "howlings," and "yellings" exploded onto the village.

Academic text (2005)
The howling of the wolves echoed through the night, filling the air with their mournful cries.
After the team lost the match, the howling from the disappointed fans could be heard for miles.
The child's howling when he fell down made everyone rush to see if he was okay.

Synonyms

cry

vshowling

157 1.0

A loud call that an animal or person makes

is more specific, meaning a long and emotional type of that sound

screaming

vshowling

130 1.9

A very loud high, piercing noise that hurts the ears

is an emotional long cry that may not always be high-pitched

yelling

vshowling

113 1.0

A loud shout showing pain, anger or strong feeling

is a specific long emotional cry rather than varied loud utterances

shouting

vshowling

87 1.0

Loud sounds people make to show strong feelings, for example at sports games

is similar but specifically denotes a long and emotional form of that cry

shout

vshowling

85 1.0

A loud cry to get attention or show strong feeling

is the longer, more emotional version rather than a quick call

yell

vshowling

38 1.0

A loud, sudden shout made when you feel strong pain, anger or excitement

is generally longer and may express amusement as well as pain

howl

vshowling

25 1.7

A long loud cry or laugh that shows strong feeling

is a long loud emotional cry used for pain, amusement, or strong feeling

holler

vshowling

Informal

20 7.5

A very loud shout or cry that shows strong feeling

is more about a long emotional sound rather than a short shout

wail

vshowling

19 3.2

A long loud cry that shows pain or deep sadness

is broader, applying to long emotional cries beyond sorrow alone

screeching

vshowling

18 3.3

A very loud high sound that hurts your ears

is less about pitch and harshness and more about length and feeling

squeal

vshowling

18 2.9

A long, high sound showing pain, fear, or strong excitement

is similar but is not limited to a high pitch and includes deeper tones

shrieking

vshowling

12 3.0

A loud, very high sound like a scream made by a person or animal

is long and emotional but can be lower pitched and less piercing

wailing

vshowling

11 3.5

Loud long cries made when someone feels deep pain or sadness

covers long emotional cries for many feelings, not only grief

hollering

vshowling

Informal

4 5.9

A very loud shout that sounds like an animal call

is focused on sustained emotional sound more than a single loud call

roaring

vshowling

4 3.4

A deep loud sound like an animal or thunder

is emotional and long but can be higher or less forceful than this

bellowing

vshowling

3 5.9

A very loud deep shout like an animal's roar

is emotional and loud but can be less deep and more sustained

howler

vshowling

2 4.4

A loud strong cry that someone or an animal makes

is the expressive long cry itself rather than the person or thing making it

bawling

vshowling

2 3.5

Loud, noisy crying when someone is very upset

is similar but not limited to weeping or visible tears

yowl

vshowling

2 7.2

A loud, long cry that sounds like an animal in pain

is any long emotional cry for various feelings, not only animallike wails

halloo

vshowling

Archaic

1 9.9

A loud shout to call dogs in a hunt or get someone's attention

is emotional and long but not primarily used just to attract notice

ululation

vshowling

1 9.9

A long loud high sound people make to show strong feeling

is the general long emotional cry, not tied to cultural practice

whooping

vshowling

1 3.7

A loud shout that shows joy or approval

is also emotional but often longer and not only joyful excitement

loud holler

vshowling

1 4.1

A very loud shout to show strong feeling or get attention

is usually a sustained emotional cry rather than a single attention call

Antonyms

silence

373 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

How Loud

roar

93 1.0

howling

11 4.1

murmur

30 4.1

whisper

126 1.0

Surface Forms

howling singular

howlings plural

Morphology

howling = howl (transparent) = howl + ing

This is a regular -ing nominalization of howling from the verb howl, so the meaning is directly recoverable.

Etymology

Howling comes from the sound word howl, which means 'to make a long, loud cry' and copies the noise of wolves or the wind. So a howling is a long, loud, emotional cry or sound, and the word itself helps you imagine the noise.