Yows

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. To utter loud, sharp cries or yells expressing pain, surprise, or excitement; to make a sudden, piercing sound often associated with animals or humans reacting to stimuli; to produce a vocal exclamation that conveys strong emotion or distress
2. To emit a high-pitched, abrupt shout or howl as a reaction to discomfort, shock, or joy; to vocalize sharply in a way that is startling or attention-grabbing; to express oneself through a loud and sudden noise typically signaling alarm or delight
3. To give forth a piercing, intense cry or yell signaling various emotions like pain, fear, or happiness; to produce sharp vocal sounds often heard in moments of acute sensation or reaction; to vocally express powerful feelings with sudden and loud utterances

Etymology: "Yows" is the plural of "yow," the noun form of the verb "yowl" in one of its older senses, though the plural is far rarer than the verb in everyday use. The verb is what most readers will meet, meaning to let out a loud, drawn-out cry, usually of pain, fear or distress, and the sense of "yow" as a noun names that cry itself, so a "yow" is a single such outburst and "yows" are several of them. The word is closely tied to "yowl," with "yow" as its shorter, more clipped relative. Both are imitative in character, built to sound like the noise they describe, which is why they share that sharp, animal-like quality. Because the plural only ever means repeated outcries, it is most often seen in writing about animals, such as cats or dogs, or in lively descriptions of a crowd making a commotion.

Synonyms: yells, cries, shouts

Antonyms: whispers, hushes