howler
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈhaʊlɚ/
ipa: /ˈhaʊlə/
rhymes: -aʊlə(ɹ)
Forms: form: howlers
Etymology: From howl + -er. Some senses are derivatives of the intensifier "howling", as in "howling wilderness", (Deuteronomy 32:10)
Senses: glosses: That which howls, especially an animal such as a wolf or a howler monkey.
glosses: A person hired to howl in mourning at a funeral.
examples: text: Given what we know about cognitive psychology, utility maximization is a ludicrous concept; equilibrium pretty foolish outside of financial markets; perfect competition a howler for most industries.
ref: 1993, Paul Krugman, How I Work, October 1 1993, in: Paul Krugman, Arguing with Zombies, 2020, p. 402
text: I should like to thank Jianmei Piao of the Stanford University Libraries for reading the entire translation and checking it against the Chinese. Jianmei caught some howlers for which I am very grateful.
ref: 1997 [1935], William A. Lyell, “A Note on the Translation”, in Zhang Henshui, translated by William A. Lyell, Shanghai Express: A Thirties Novel (Fiction from Modern China; 7), Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 259:
text: A howler is a glaring mistake, a mistake that cries out to be noticed.
ref: 2009, Tom Burton, Quadrant, November 2009, No. 461 (Volume LIII, Number 11), Quadrant Magazine Limited, page 78
glosses: A painfully obvious mistake.
glosses: A hilarious joke.
glosses: A bitterly cold day.
examples: text: Although their behavior does not have the same impact as hunters, howlers nevertheless distract the public figure and compel security and law enforcement […]
ref: 2008, J. Reid Meloy, Lorraine Sheridan, Jens Hoffmann, Stalking, Threatening, and Attacking Public Figures, page 121:
text: Hunters stalk their targets, make detailed plans, acquire and practice with weapons, and try to hurt or kill people. Howlers make bomb threats to schools, malls, churches, businesses, and government offices.
ref: 2015, Steve Albrecht, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities:
topics: human-sciences
psychology
sciences
coordinate_terms: hunter
glosses: A person who expresses aggression openly in the form of threats.
glosses: A heavy fall.
examples: text: Our hansom came a howler.
glosses: A serious accident (especially to come a howler or go a howler; compare come a cropper).
examples: text: Trump has been trying to sell the howler that India offered a zero tariffs deal, when Modi isn’t even willing to take Trump’s repeated calls.
ref: 2025, Yves Smith, What Happens as Trump’s Losses Mount?:
glosses: A tremendous lie (especially an obvious one); a whopper.
glosses: A fashionably but extravagantly overdressed man, a "howling swell".
glosses: A 32-ounce ceramic, plastic, or stainless steel jug used to transport draft beer.
examples: text: I wanted Leesa to pick up her children, not Child Protective Services. After thirty minutes, I had the two howlers fed and settled down for naps.
ref: 2013, Tyora Moody, Deep Fried Trouble:
text: What are we doing to our children? But the howlers seem okay, maybe even happy. This makes me feel a little better about the future.
ref: 2022, Joe Beine, Dark Eden:
glosses: A small child.
Derived terms: calamity howler
black howler
ursine howler