scowl

Meaning

Noun

1. The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.
2. Gloom; dark or threatening aspect.

Verb

1. To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.
2. To look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower.
3. To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown.
4. To express by a scowl.

Synonyms

frown

glower

glare

grimace

lour

knit

sulk

raise eyebrows

stare

lower

grim

ignore

make a face

moodiness

oppose

ostracize

pull a face

shun

sneer

squint

sulkiness

sullenness

glare at

glower at

knit one’s brows

knit the brows

look daggers at

show disgust

feel bitter

confront

look daggers

defeat

disapprove

doggedness

face

frowning

😦

gather

gaze

give the eye

gloom

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skaʊl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: scowlen

Cognate with Middle English: schoulen

Cognate with Danish: skule

Cognate with Norwegian: skule

In summary

From Middle English scowlen, scoulen, skoulen (also as Middle English schoulen), probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Danish skule (“to scowl”), Norwegian skule (“to scowl”).