1
as in to talk
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities
that stool pigeon squealed to the police about the whole smuggling operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
hoped that a DVD player in the backseat would keep the kids from squealing about long car rides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squeal
Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Are not random acts of rhyming gone wrong still more pleasant than thinking about squealing war-babies, the wrecking ball that is the last week of a Florida legislative session or the AI Apocalypse which should be here (checks watch) very soon?
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Ronnie Li, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
For the record, actor Henry Travers pronounces the word library in a desperate squeal.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squeal
Verb
Someone was squealing and crying at the same time, as if caught in a trap.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Are not random acts of rhyming gone wrong still more pleasant than thinking about squealing war-babies, the wrecking ball that is the last week of a Florida legislative session or the AI Apocalypse which should be here (checks watch) very soon?
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
However, the ultrasound revealed a surprise that would make her squeal with happiness.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
For the record, actor Henry Travers pronounces the word library in a desperate squeal.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squeal
Verb
-
The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
And, even then, maybe don’t talk to me.—
Jesse Eisenberg,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With few exceptions, all the other students had shrieked in fear and had, from then on, called her gross-out or bug-girl.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The driver and passenger in the BMW complained of pain.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Native to North America, eastern screech-owls are mostly gray, reddish-brown or brown with yellow eyes, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Hawks weren’t able to squeak out a victory on the ice like the Bears did on the turf.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Living rooms welcome the ambient tones of squeaking sneakers and droning cheer squads.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The voice-over exchange on racial identity is played as obvious parody — the satire screaming its head off in case anyone should question the play’s point of view.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Or get ready for a lot of groaning and whining.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Mar. 2026
-
With LeBron James buying into a supporting actor role, the Lakers are a legitimate threat because Doncic is more focused on scoring buckets than whining to officials.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
He was missed — especially vocally — since Gill’s angelic voice does not, in any way shape or form, resemble Walsh’s charmingly out-of-pitch squawk-talk style.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Toy keyboard plinks and saxophone squawks spiral over a booming racket of drums in the ether, slyly threatening to collapse, like an elaborate plate-spinning act.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeal. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
