creak 1 of 2

noun

Definition of creaknext
as in scratch
a harsh grating sound the creak of a floorboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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creak

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to groan

Related Words
2
as in to squeak

Related Words

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 creak
Noun
Without the Strait being reliably open, the whole system creaks and is bound to swing dramatically up and down. — Justin Worland, Time, 17 Apr. 2026 Your baby was waking at every creak of the floorboard, every passing car, every branch scraping the window. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Here in Fort America, the walls creak, then something smashes onto the roof. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Economic growth is anemic, taxes are high, public services are creaking and successive governments have been unable to stem the flow of migrants who wash up on the English Channel coast in inflatable boats. — Danica Kirka, Fortune, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for creak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for creak
  1. scratch
  2. groan
  3. squeak
  4. scrape
  5. whine
  6. crackle
  7. rasp
  8. moan
Noun
  • Using the wrong type of cleaning product for your tub’s material can result in scratches, discoloration, or chips.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
  • One kitten was found dead in the roadway, while a second suffered a dislocated tail and scratches to its ears and was treated by veterinarians.
    — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratch
Verb
  • Merchant galleons coursing into the port of Caldera would be groaning with cacao, tobacco, livestock and hardwoods, transported down by mule from the transit hub of Esparza in the mountain basin above.
    — Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • But the groaning synthesizer underneath her bashful smile tells you something is off — a crystalline tone now distended, unnerving.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of groan
Verb
  • Metal frames have a tendency to click and squeak, but reviewers tout this frame’s noise-free build.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
  • Schwarber, who barely squeaked out of the first round, went first.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of squeak
Noun
  • Prevention tips Health officials caution against entering warm saltwater or brackish water if any fresh cuts, scrapes or wounds are present.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Juice a Mock Scrape Where legally permitted, juicing a scrape or creating a mock scrape can influence deer, too.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrape
Verb
  • The fact that a prominent world leader has been desperately hoping (some might say whining) for a Nobel Peace Prize is not lost on Bang.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Anticipate and Remind There’s no reason to wait for the whining to happen.
    — Debby Waldman, Parents, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • As the Taser crackles, the recording device drops, briefly capturing part of a vehicle before flames erupt near the camera.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Sarah stretches the beaver pelt in front of her mother to shield her from the crackling ignition of the newspaperman’s flash powder.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of crackle
Noun
  • With her retro-soul rasp and ’60s style aesthetic, the English singer-songwriter, 20, has quickly become one of the biggest breakthrough acts of the year.
    — Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • LaBelle, 82, gave an R&B rendition of the anthem, rife with her gospel rasp, ending with a belting high note to stadium cheers.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of rasp
Verb
  • The performers grind and moan as rain pours from above and a wind machine roars.
    — Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Over four months in 2025, a state investigative report found, Sunrise switched Timaloa's room eight times, the last into one occupied by Attilio Cecchetto, 92, a retired tile installer whose dementia led him to frequently moan, mumble, and yell.
    — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
Definition of moan

Phrases Containing creak

Browse Nearby Words

crazy quilts
creak
creak (along)
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Cite this Entry

“Creak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/creak. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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