scowl

pronunciation

How to pronounce scowl in British English: UK [skaʊl]word uk audio image

How to pronounce scowl in American English: US [skaʊl] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
  • Verb:
    frown with displeasure

Word Origin

scowl (v.)
mid-14c., from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian skule "look furtively, squint, look embarrassed," Danish skule "to scowl, cast down the eyes"). Probably related to Old English sceolh "wry, oblique," Old High German scelah "curved," German scheel "squint-eyed;" from PIE root *sqel- "crooked, curved, bent." Related: Scowled; scowling.
scowl (n.)
c. 1500, from scowl (v.).

Synonym

vi.

frown pout

Example

1. He growled , lips curled into a scowl .
2. And here he comes with that trademark arrogant scowl .
3. I turned to james , and noticed his scowl .
4. Their inability to scowl seemed to impair their ability to see why pushy telemarketers or a lack of birthday wishes might make one 's face fall .
5. He gave her a bad-tempered scowl .

more: >How to Use "scowl" with Example Sentences