Meaning & use
mewl
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To make a weak, high-pitched crying sound, like that of a baby or a small animal.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'like' or 'with' to describe the sound.
Patterns
- mewl like something
- mewl with something
The kitten mewled softly in the corner.
The baby mewled weakly, too tired to cry loudly.
He mewled with pain as the doctor cleaned the wound.
verbintransitivedisapproving
To speak in a weak, whining voice, especially when complaining.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'about' to show the subject of complaint.
Patterns
- mewl about something
Stop mewling about your problems and do something about them.
He mewled that he was too tired to continue.
Word forms
| third person singular | mewls |
|---|---|
| past tense | mewled |
| past participle | mewled |
| -ing form | mewling |
Common combinations
- mewl softly
- The puppy mewled softly in its sleep.
- mewl with pain
- She mewled with pain after the injection.
- mewl like a kitten
- The injured bird mewled like a kitten.
- mewl about
- He kept mewling about how unfair life was.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- mewl noun
- A weak, high-pitched cry.
Commonly confused: mewl or mule? mewl or meow?
mewl vs mule
A mule is an animal; mewl is a sound. They sound similar but are unrelated.
mewl vs meow
A meow is the normal sound a cat makes; a mewl is a weaker, more pitiful version.
Practice
The sick kitten ________ pitifully all night.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'mewled' is needed because the action happened all night (past time). 'Mewl' is the base form, 'mewling' is the -ing form, and 'mewls' is present tense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mewl”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.