1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the cranky patient was always croaking to the nurses about something
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to die
slang
to stop living
I wouldn't go around saying your great-grandmother "croaked"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
slang
to deprive of life
"I croaked the old bugger," he bragged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to assassinate
slang
to put to death deliberately
hooligans had croaked the street corner wino just for the hell of it
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 croak
Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 May 2025
When members of the group croak, they aren’t put down, they’re merely put… out.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 18 May 2025
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
At last, being informed that her ex had croaked inspired Donna to tearfully sign her DNR.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for croak
Verb
Throughout the track, the coquí’s croak echoes briefly in the background.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 May 2025
When members of the group croak, they aren’t put down, they’re merely put… out.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 18 May 2025
Noun
The moms chattered and laughed and sang, while the birds made a croaking sound.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
At last, being informed that her ex had croaked inspired Donna to tearfully sign her DNR.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for croak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for croak
Verb
-
On a StudBudz stream, Courtney Williams complained about having to share space at the team’s practice area, particularly when players and other attendees of the recreation center need to shower.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Roman complains about pain in his feet, and Dennis offers him a foot massage.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The fact that babies and toddlers continue to die from ingesting fentanyl will likely come up in a meeting next month.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Over the past two months, Texans have used green ribbons with bows to commemorate the lives lost in the July 4 Hill Country flooding, which killed more than 100 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors from Camp Mystic in Hunt.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Jerry Jeudy makes far too much money to wreck possessions with two drops, one that killed a drive and another that resulted in a crushing interception.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There was huge outrage and debate at the time around the idea that the American president could assassinate an American citizen extrajudicially, in violation of his Constitutional rights.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The series follows Agent 47, a contract killer who travels to different destinations across the world to assassinate targets.—
George Yang,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This caused crews to declare an emergency squawk 7700 — an international distress code.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The animals use complex clicks, squawks and whistles to call out to each other, fight and attract a mate.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Deputies arrived to the sound of screaming and found the 16-year-old Elijah Quintero on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Curtis Pleasant remembers wading through the water, chest deep, screaming and searching.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sadly, none of her citrus survived, and many of her cattle perished.—
Mandi Wright,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Did the whole book really perish in the flames?—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Acosta allowed it, and IMG destroyed them.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Later, Howard calls Matt and agrees to cut the sequence but also threatens to destroy him.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Croak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/croak. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share