What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
yowling
Example
The cat was yowling all night long, keeping us awake. [yowling: verb]
Example
He was yowling in agony after he fell and broke his leg. [yowling: gerund or present participle]
shrieking
Example
The children were shrieking with joy as they rode the rollercoaster. [shrieking: verb]
Example
She let out a blood-curdling shriek when she saw the spider on her pillow. [shriek: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shrieking is more commonly used than yowling in everyday language. Shrieking is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while yowling is less common and mainly used to describe animal sounds.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between yowling and shrieking?
Both yowling and shrieking are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
