howl vs roar

howl

verb
  • To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail. 

  • To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast. 

  • To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do. 

  • To utter with outcry. 

noun
  • Any similar sound. 

  • A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail. 

  • The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals. 

roar

verb
  • To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion. 

  • Of animals (especially a lion), to make a loud deep noise. 

  • To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses do when they have a certain disease. 

  • To proceed vigorously. 

  • To be boisterous; to be disorderly. 

  • Generally, of inanimate objects etc., to make a loud resounding noise. 

  • To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly. 

  • To laugh in a particularly loud manner. 

  • to cry 

noun
  • A loud resounding noise. 

  • A show of strength or character. 

  • The deep cry of the bull. 

  • A long, loud, deep shout, as of rage or laughter, made with the mouth wide open. 

  • The cry of the lion. 

How often have the words howl and roar occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )