caterwaul

Alley cat cry

Caterwaul is the harsh, wailing cry of a cat, especially during mating season.

The word extends to any shrill, discordant sound: The neighbors caterwauled at each other until midnight.

As a noun, it's the sound itself: a caterwaul of protest from the back seat.

screech

yowl

Prolonged distressed cry

howlProlonged mournful cry
screechHigh, harsh cry
wailProlonged mournful cry

shriek · squall · yell · cry · scream · bawl · squeal · roar · ululate · holler

feline

tomcat

Intact male feline

alley catHomeless urban feline
mating callSpecies-specific courtship signal
yowlProlonged distressed cry

prowl · nighttime · howl · screech · mouser · stray · feral · heat · territorial · nocturnal

complain

whine

Complain in high pitch

gripeVoice minor displeasure
grumbleLow, discontented murmuring
moanLow vocal complaint

kvetch · bellyache · carp · grouse · grouch · fuss · squawk · screech · protest · bemoan

quarrel

bicker

Argue over trifles

squabbleTrivial noisy argument
wrangleArgue or herd livestock
spatPetty verbal dispute

row · argument · dispute · clash · altercation · fight · feud · scuffle · tiff · ruckus

Categories

cat soundsmeow, purr, hiss, mew, yowl
criescry, scream, shout, yell, wail
loud criesscream, screech, shriek, yell, howl
pain soundsouch, ow, oww, owie, owwie
loud noisesnoise, bang, crash, roar, boom

Opposites

sound quality

caterwaulpurr

Feline contentment sound

croon · melody · hum · harmony · lullaby

emotional expression

caterwaulcheer

Joyfulness or encouragement

applaud · crow · rejoice · commend · accept

volume and intensity

caterwaulsilence

Total lack of sound

whisper · hush · murmur · quiet · stillness

Family

caterwauling, caterwauls, caterwaulers, caterwauled, caterwaulings

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G