Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make a loud, harsh, prolonged cry or howl, especially characteristic of certain animals like cats or coyotes. It often implies a sound of distress, anger, or wildness.

Usage

• The verb wrawl is used to describe the loud, unpleasant vocalizations of animals. It is a rare and literary word, often found in older texts or used for dramatic effect. It is typically used in the simple past or past participle forms (wrawled) or with auxiliary verbs (was wrawling).

Examples

• The tomcats wrawled at each other all night long on the fence.
• From the depths of the forest, a strange creature could be heard wrawling.
• The desert echoed with the sound of coyotes wrawling at the moon.

Advanced Usage

• While primarily for animals, wrawl can be applied figuratively to a person making a similarly loud, harsh, and prolonged cry of anger or pain.
  • The furious protester wrawled insults at the passing official.

Variants and Related Words

• Caterwaul (verb): To make a shrill, howling cry (specifically for cats). This is a much more common synonym for wrawl.
• Howl (verb): To make a long, loud, mournful cry (like a wolf or dog). This is a broader and more common term.
• Yowl (verb): To make a loud, wailing cry, often of distress or pain (used for cats and other animals).

Synonyms

• Caterwaul
• Howl
• Yowl
• Screech
• Bawl

Antonyms

• Purr
• Murmur
• Whisper

Verb

1. cry loudly, as of animals
   • The coyotes were howling in the desert