A yowl is a loud, prolonged, mournful cry—the sound a cat makes when distressed, territorial, or in heat.
Dogs, wolves, and humans yowl too.
The verb means to make such a sound: The cat yowled outside the door all night.
A yowl is rougher and more drawn-out than a yell, suggesting animal complaint.
1. distress — wail, Prolonged mournful cry; scream (Loud sharp cry); shriek (Shrill, piercing cry); cry (Vocal expression of emotion); sob · moan · groan · whimper · bawl · keen · lament · anguished · plaintive · torment
2. catsound — caterwaul, Shrill wailing cry; screech (High, harsh cry); meow (Feline vocalization); hiss (Sharp sibilant sound); snarl · growl · wail · shriek · cry · squall · mewl · catfight · tomcat · alley
3. complaint — whine, Complain in high pitch; grumble (Low, discontented murmuring); moan (Low vocal complaint); grouse (Fowl or fuss); bellyache · gripe · kvetch · carp · fuss · protest · grievance · lament · sulk · whinge
4. animalnoise — bark, Sharp canine vocalization; yelp (Brief, shrill cry); snarl (Hostile vocal threat); growl (Low threatening sound); whimper · bray · ululate · screech · squeal · bellow · roar · coyote · wolf · primal
Opposites
SOUND QUALITY/INTENSITYyowl ≠ purr Feline contentment sound; whisper · murmur · mumble · coo · croon
EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIONyowl ≠ purr Feline contentment sound; coo · laugh · giggle · chuckle · cheer
Categories
animal sounds: bark, meow, woof, moo, roar; cat sounds: meow, purr, hiss, mew, caterwaul; cries: cry, scream, shout, yell, wail; laments: lamentation, wailing, keen, keening, lament; loud cries: scream, screech, shriek, yell, wail; pain sounds: ouch, ow, oww, owie, owwie
Family
yowling, yowls, yowled, yowler
- Familiarity
- Top 200,000
- Profile
- Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G