howler monkey

noun

: any of a genus (Alouatta) of South and Central American monkeys that have a long prehensile tail and enlargement of the hyoid bone and expansion of the larynx enabling them to make loud howling noises

Illustration of howler monkey

Illustration of howler monkey

Examples of howler monkey in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then, like an alarm clock, howler monkeys unleashed their banshee shriek, staking their territory as the sun rose. — Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025 Nothing spoils a Sunday afternoon outside with the family quite like your youngest child being carried off by a horde of maladjusted howler monkeys. — Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025 Set the scene Tucked under the canopy of a jungle-like forest brimming with howler monkeys and technicolor birds, the resort greets guests with an open-air lobby that overlooks its seemingly endless green sanctuary. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026 The Houston Zoo announced Wednesday, Altuve's 36th birthday, that its new baby howler monkey is named Tuve in honor of the Astros great. — Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for howler monkey

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of howler monkey was in 1932

Rhymes for howler monkey

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Browse Nearby Words

howler
howler monkey
howlet
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Cite this Entry

“Howler monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/howler%20monkey. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on howler monkey

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about howler monkey

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