to prowl

Examples

• All

• They know their enemies prowl out there in the darkness.

  March of the Dinosaurs (2011)

• Grandpa Cook... used to prowl around the house at night, looking at everybody.

  A Thousand Acres (1997)

• In any case, he had no right to prowl around the outside of the house.

  Fiction book (1992)

• You got a reason for prowling around here?

  Idle Hands (1999)

• Do you have any idea what sort of ruffians prowl these roads?

  Manny & Lo (1996)

• But I want you to stop prowling around.

  Spawn of the Slithis (1978)

• Someone outside, prowling around the grounds.

  Sleuth (1972)

• With dusk approaching, leopards will soon prowl the forest floor.

  Chimpanzee (2012)

• Despite Walt's efforts, the cats continually prowled the place, looking for mice.

  Fiction book (1992)

• She decided to prowl through the forest quietly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the deer at dusk.

Synonyms

H

to hunt

vsto prowl

322 1.0

To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them

is quieter and more secretive rather than relentless active pursuit

C

to creep

vsto prowl

155 2.5

To move slowly and quietly with the body low to the ground

is less about low body position and more about secret searching

L

to lurk

vsto prowl

104 5.5

To stay hidden and move secretly to watch or frighten people

is active movement rather than staying hidden in one place

T

to tiptoe

vsto prowl

44 3.1

To walk quietly on the toes to avoid making noise

is broader secret movement not limited to walking on the toes

S

to stalk

vsto prowl

41 6.0

To move quietly and carefully while looking for animals to catch

is broader quiet movement often done while searching or as if hunting

S

to skulk

vsto prowl

20 7.7

To move or act quietly to avoid being noticed

is similar but more often implies searching rather than avoiding notice

S

to slink

vsto prowl

16 6.7

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen

is less tied to fear and more to searching or hunting

S

to still-hunt

vsto prowl

• Jargon

1 9.8

To move quietly and try to catch an animal by surprise

is similar but covers secret movement not only deliberate animal ambushes

M

marauding

vsto prowl

• NSFW

7.9

Going around looking for things to steal or people to attack

is more about secret searching without necessarily violent or stealing intent

P

to pussyfoot

vsto prowl

• Informal

8.9

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being noticed

is more purposeful searching often resembling hunting rather than cautious avoidance

Idioms

O

on the prowl

• Informal

14 6.3

To move around while looking for something to catch or get

Compounds

P

prowl car

• Jargon

7.4

A police car that drives around streets to watch for trouble

How Stealthy

to stalk

• Offensive

195 7.4

to prowl

35 5.3

to creep

155 2.5

sneak

2 5.6

Surface Forms

Etymology