What does yowled mean?
Yowled means that someone or something made a loud, prolonged cry. The word is especially associated with dogs, wolves, and other animals, but people may yowl when they are in severe pain, frightened, frustrated, or overcome by laughter or excitement. It is more specific and colorful than simply “cried,” suggesting a cry that is sharp, sustained, or dramatic. In literary and narrative contexts, yowled can vividly convey both physical distress and intense emotion. The related noun yowl names the cry itself, while yowling describes the act of making such a cry. Yowled is the past tense and past participle of yowl, so it appears frequently in accounts of completed actions, such as an animal yowling through the night or a person yowling in surprise.
verbYowled is the past tense and past participle of yowl: to utter a loud, prolonged cry, especially the sound made by a dog or other animal. It can also describe a person crying out loudly in pain, distress, or strong emotion.
- To make a loud, prolonged cry, especially as a dog does; to cry out loudly in pain, distress, or strong emotion.
"The injured dog yowled in pain as the veterinarian examined its paw."
"The dog yowled and scratched at the door until someone opened it."
"She yowled with frustration when she discovered the missing file."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How yowled is actually used
Yowled is vivid and often slightly informal or expressive. It is especially common in descriptions of animals, but it can also describe a person screaming or crying out dramatically.
Easily confused with yowled
Yowled suggests a sharp, sustained or repeated cry, often associated with a dog, while howled is a broader term for a long cry or wail.