cackle

verb

cack·​le ˈka-kəl 

cackled; cackling ˈka-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make the sharp broken noise or cry characteristic of a hen especially after laying

2

: to laugh especially in a harsh or sharp manner

… Shakespeare's crones cackled of evil deeds …

—Scott McMurray

3

: chatter

cackle noun

cackler

ˈka-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of cackle

• chat
• talk
• converse
• chatter
• rattle

Examples of cackle in a Sentence

The hens were cackling in the henhouse.

I could hear my aunts cackling in the next room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Violet cackled, and the tension broke. —Andrew Martin, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025

Here is a mom falling over cackling at the comma-rich DM her extremely funny daughter, Mandy Brooke, sent to Lil Wayne. —Julie Klausner, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

And Winston left fans cackling with his version, which poked fun at his infamous crab leg theft from his time at Florida State University in 2014. —Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

On a Tuesday afternoon in early November, the Zoom background of Tom Kenny, the voice of the cackling cartoon sea sponge with square pants, is a snapshot from the long-running kids series. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cakelen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cackle

• crackle
• hackle
• jackal
• shackle
• tackle
• vakil
• ramshackle
• tabernacle
• zodiacal

Kids Definition

cackle

verb

cack·​le ˈkak-əl 

cackled; cackling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to make the sharp broken noise or cry that a hen makes especially after laying an egg

2

: to laugh or chatter noisily

cackle noun

cackler

-(ə-)lər 

noun