croak

1 of 2

verb

ˈkrōk 

croaked; croaking; croaks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a deep harsh sound

b

: to speak in a hoarse throaty voice

2

: grumble sense 1

3

slang : die

transitive verb

1

: to utter in a hoarse raucous voice

2

slang : kill

croak

2 of 2

noun

: a hoarse harsh cry or sound

croaky

ˈkrō-kē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• grouse
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Examples of croak in a Sentence

Verb

We could hear the frogs croaking by the pond.

The man could only croak his name.

He tried to speak but could barely croak.

He had a heart attack and croaked.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his Oscar-winning performance from the controversial 2019 movie, croaks his way through a selection of standards in a voice that may remind you of the late Joe Cocker or the sound of glass being churned into little crystalline bits in the garbage disposal. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

This one was just quietly croaking, and not flying near to chase anyone off. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024

Noun

Another star of the haunted entertainment industry is Little Red Hiking Ghost, a classic J-horror apparition in a red hoodie whose hair completely covers her face and who speaks only in hollow croaks. —Katie Rife, IndieWire, 27 Sep. 2024

Elegant trogons make several noises, from the bombastic croak that tells other males to back off to a gentler coo that appears to be conversation with a mate. —Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English croken, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1561, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

croak

verb

ˈkrōk

1

a

: to make a deep harsh sound

b

: to speak in a hoarse throaty voice

2

: grumble sense 1, complain

3

slang

a

: die entry 1 sense 1

b

: kill entry 1 sense 1

croak noun