  The detection of gravitational waves (GWs) provides a powerful tool to
constrain the cosmological parameters. In this paper, we investigate the
possibility of using GWs as standard sirens in testing the anisotropy of the
universe. We consider the GW signals produced by the coalescence of binary
black hole systems and simulate hundreds of GW events from the advanced Laser
Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo. It is found
that the anisotropy of the universe can be tightly constrained if the redshift
of the GW source is precisely known. The anisotropic amplitude can be
constrained with an accuracy comparable to the Union2.1 complication of type-Ia
supernovae if $\gtrsim 400$ GW events are observed. As for the preferred
direction, $\gtrsim 800$ GW events are needed in order to achieve the accuracy
of Union2.1. With 800 GW events, the probability of pseudo anisotropic signals
with an amplitude comparable to Union2.1 is negligible. These results show that
GWs can provide a complementary tool to supernovae in testing the anisotropy of
the universe.
