caterwaul

[ˈkætərˌwɔl]

caterwaul Definition

to make a loud and unpleasant sound, especially a cat.

Using caterwaul: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "caterwaul" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The cats were caterwauling outside my window all night.

  • Example

    The baby started to caterwaul when he saw the stranger.

  • Example

    The singer caterwauled through the entire song.

caterwaul Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for caterwaul

Phrases with caterwaul

  • to make a loud and unpleasant sound, often used hyperbolically

    Example

    The kids were caterwauling like banshees at the party.

  • to complain or express dissatisfaction about something in a loud and unpleasant way

    Example

    He was caterwauling over the poor service at the restaurant.

  • to sing or play music badly or off-key

    Example

    The band was caterwauling out of tune during their performance.

Origins of caterwaul

from Middle English 'caterwaulen', meaning 'to cry as cats in rutting time'

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Summary: caterwaul in Brief

'Caterwaul' [ˈkætərˌwɔl] is a verb that describes making a loud and unpleasant sound, especially that of a cat. It can be used to describe human vocalizations as well, as in 'The singer caterwauled through the entire song.' The phrase 'caterwaul like a banshee' is often used hyperbolically to describe loud noise, while 'caterwaul over something' means to complain loudly and unpleasantly about something.