squawk

verb \ ˈskwȯk \

Definition of squawk

intransitive verb

1 :to utter a harsh abrupt scream

2 :to complain or protest loudly or vehemently

opponents of the bill squawked

—

squawker

noun

See squawk defined for English-language learners

See squawk defined for kids

Examples of squawk in a Sentence

The customers squawked about the high prices.
Opponents of the project have been squawking.

Recent Examples of squawk from the Web

But behind the scenes in the barn, the 4-H members lined up in their crisp white shirts could barely hear her over the bleating sheep, the squawking chickens and the snorting hogs rolling under the roar of fans.

— libby solomon, Howard County Times, "Howard County 4-H livestock sale builds confidence, lifelong friendships," 14 Aug. 2017
But no one was squawking that the Dow Jones industrial average, the Standard & Poor’s 500, the Russell 1000 and Russell 2000 indexes all hit record highs just as that fresh flood of money was peaking.

— chuck jaffe, The Seattle Times, "Investment prosperity can make investors complacent," 29 July 2017
The film has yet to cast the villainous Jafar, the squawking Iago, the monkey Abu, and the tiger Raja.

— vanityfair.com, "Disney Announces Main Aladdin Cast Including Will Smith," 15 July 2017
The film has yet to cast the villainous Jafar, the squawking Iago, the monkey Abu, and the tiger Raja.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Disney Announces Main Aladdin Cast Including Will Smith," 15 July 2017
The second half, Love—spun as a soundtrack to an indie art film—is producing some indignant squawking from reviewers for its self-indulgence and shapelessness.

— monica kendrick, Chicago Reader, "The Melvins are still throwing us all for a loop, some 35 years since their inception," 13 July 2017
As many as 200 of the lanky white birds are flopping awkwardly in the tops of the towering trees, roosting, squawking, falling out of nests.

— robert cadwallader, star-telegram, "Egrets making life miserable for Arlington residents, but ‘next year we have a plan’," 3 July 2017
But the Braves squawked when Urena hit Adams in the backside.

— craig davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins fall again to Braves on walk-off hit by Brandon Phillips," 18 June 2017
Trump, by contrast, sounds like a ridiculous Chicken Little squawking about the coop.

— eugene robinson, The Mercury News, "Robinson: Tweets on London proves Trump needs to get a grip," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squawk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of squawk

probably blend of squall and squeak

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1821

See Words from the same year

squawk Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words

object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms

accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

squawk

noun

Definition of squawk

1 :a harsh abrupt scream

2 :a noisy complaint

Examples of squawk in a Sentence

if we don't receive any squawks, we can assume the change was acceptable

Recent Examples of squawk from the Web

Other creatures seem subdued — the ducks paddle and dip into the ocean with fewer squawks, the eagles perch quietly in the tall spruce trees.

— megan bush moody, Alaska Dispatch News, "Garlands of seaweed, ferried to shore at Tenakee Springs," 19 Aug. 2017
In Caracas, voting began at 6 a.m. amid the squawk of macaws.

— anthony faiola, chicagotribune.com, "Defying international calls, Venezuela holds contentious election; 14 reported dead," 30 July 2017
In Caracas, where voting began at 6 a.m. amid the squawk of macaws, citizens lined up at polling stations under a veil of fear.

— anthony faiola, Washington Post, "Defying international calls, Venezuela holds contentious election," 30 July 2017
In Caracas, voting began at 6 a.m. amid the squawk of macaws.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Defying international calls, Venezuela holds contentious election," 30 July 2017
First, there will be plenty of second-guessing squawks if George hits the ground running in Oklahoma City.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "2017 NBA Free Agency Winners And Losers," 6 July 2017
But there were squawks of good news at other nesting sites in the region.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Why Mt. Clemens peregrine falcons will be empty-nesters this year," 3 July 2017
In addition, when humans get too close, the terns hover over them, squawk and sometimes dive toward their heads — using their energy to defend their nests, instead of sitting on eggs or feeding young, Dann said.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Waukegan, IDNR hoping to protect endangered terns found nesting at Municipal Beach," 3 July 2017
The laughter and chatter of the crowds at Saturday’s Great American Beach Party in Fort Lauderdale were frequently interrupted by an eclectic chorus of sounds, from the squawk of a parrot to the rev of an engine.

— brooke baitinger, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Great American Beach Party brings antique cars, alligators — and crowds," 27 May 2017

First Known Use of squawk

1850

squawk Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, complaint, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer

Related Words

challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle [chiefly British], objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink

Near Antonyms

commendation, compliment, plaudit; acclaim, applause, praise; approval, endorsement (also indorsement), sanction

SQUAWK Defined for English Language Learners

squawk

verb

Definition of squawk for English Language Learners

of a bird : to make a short, harsh cry
: to complain or protest loudly or with strong feeling

SQUAWK Defined for Kids

squawk

verb \ ˈskwȯk \

Definition of squawk for Students

squawked; squawking

1 :to make a harsh short cry

The bird squawked loudly.

2 :to complain or protest loudly or with strong feeling

squawk

noun

Definition of squawk for Students

1 :a harsh short cry

2 :a noisy complaint

Learn More about squawk

See words that rhyme with squawk Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for squawk Spanish Central: Translation of squawk Nglish: Translation of squawk for Spanish speakers

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squawk

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squawk Synonyms

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SQUAWK Defined for English Language Learners

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