FROWNING Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

frowning 1 of 2

adjective

as in scowling

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Dissimilar Words

frowning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of frown

as in glaring

to look with anger or disapproval the boss just stood there and frowned at his assistant who, once again, was in trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of frowning

Adjective

Balogun then looked over at a frowning Ream, who had just finished urging his teammates to be sure to stop and smell the flowers along this World Cup journey. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Verb

This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime. — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 Woods, 50, is seen frowning in the photo, taken shortly after the legendary golfer was booked into jail on March 27 after his Land Rover rolled over in Jupiter Island, Florida. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 Hubbard posted an image of herself with a disgusted look on her face from earlier in Season 10, while Dillard shared a photo of himself frowning, also from a scene in the show. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026 Subscribers and consumer advocates may be frowning on Netflix’s latest price hikes, but Wall Street is celebrating the move. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026 Many of the drawings show faces, and most of the faces are frowning. — Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 26 Feb. 2026 The men stood frowning at each other and then back at Adi until the one without the gun broke into croaks of laughter. — Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 Smiling can actually lift your mood, while frowning can lower it. — Valerie Monroe, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026 One mask depicts a frowning hobo with a 5 o'clock shadow that represents the aforementioned vagrant. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frowning

Adjective

The video, which has garnered over 70,000 views as of Wednesday, opens with a scowling Donalds, sitting behind the governor’s desk one year into his hypothetical first term.

— Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026

Definition of scowling

Verb

The problem appears especially glaring in thinner fields that could desperately use a boost in the competition — like this year’s limited series crop.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
T-shirts with glaring logos, like your university or favorite sports team, are considered too casual for daily wear.

— Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of glaring

Adjective

Nights can be a sullen cycle of sleep, showering and opening a window — only to close it later to block out the urban noise.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
The pilot is charming and funny, immediately drawing me into the dynamic of its two characters — Romy is a bit more gregarious and sarcastic, Bobby more sensitive and sullen.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

Definition of sullen

Verb

Some edits of the clip show the character in black-and-white, staring at the camera, emulating a horror movie scene.

— Owen Carry, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
Some of them still live in cabins and grow their own food and others spend their days staring at Microsoft Office screens, but versions of the spontaneous hippie archetype still live on within each of them.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of staring

Adjective

Behind him is the main hall, built in 1697 and designated a prefectural cultural property, standing vigil against a slate-gray sky.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
The leaves and trunks of my magnolia are covered with gray to brown spots up to an inch or more in diameter?

— Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of gray

Cite this Entry

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“Frowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frowning. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of frowning

adjective

verb

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