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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of croak
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Frogs croaked from nearby waterholes, joining the chorus of spectators who hollered as the announcer introduced their favorite racers — along with their laundry lists of sponsors.
—William Liang, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Aratus, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Rose does sing the song’s iconic chorus, but instrumentally, the song is nearly all Sly, with additional electric piano by star keyboardist Billy Preston and some guitar croaks from rising soul hitmaker Bobby Womack.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for croak
Verb
Their calls are more stork-like than hawk-like: deep, croaking barks that carry over the African grasslands.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Frogs croaked from nearby waterholes, joining the chorus of spectators who hollered as the announcer introduced their favorite racers — along with their laundry lists of sponsors.
—William Liang, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
And crows will mimic the crystalline splashing of rain yet to come, or after two deep croaks
will set up a whir with furious wingbeats.
—Aratus, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Rose does sing the song’s iconic chorus, but instrumentally, the song is nearly all Sly, with additional electric piano by star keyboardist Billy Preston and some guitar croaks from rising soul hitmaker Bobby Womack.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for croak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for croak
Verb
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Later, the state spent $6 million to seal the brick building, after state workers complained of respiratory ailments and asthma.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
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Although older drivers are certainly more sensitive to nocturnal blasts of light, drivers in their 20s and 30s also complained about the overall brightness of some vehicles.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By 1971, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones had all died at the age of twenty-seven from drugs and alcohol.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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This year's awards season promises to deliver more inspiration, but in the meantime, do yourself a favor an invest in a quality round brush, some styling gel or pomade, and a ride-or-die can of hairspray.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Iranian authorities have blocked access to the internet, arrested thousands and killed hundreds of protesters.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The protests are only the latest problem facing Khamenei’s regime, which had much of its leadership assassinated by Israel during a twelve-day war last June.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
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Venezuelan authorities accused both men of plotting to destabilize the government and assassinate Maduro, allegations denied by Spanish officials and civil organizations, which said the two were traveling for tourism.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, after 40 minutes, the pilot turned back to Birmingham after issuing the 7700 squawk emergency code over the French coast, Daily Express reported.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
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There are times when squawk is not used to communicate aircraft information, like during military operations.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Even Liz and Prue, half sisters whose relationship had been punctuated by epic screaming fights, found common ground.—
Gabriel Sherman,
Vanity Fair,
14 Jan. 2026
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Emotions spilled over in the public gallery when the sister of one of the teachers killed screamed out.—
Matthew J. Friedman,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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Harold Cunningham/Getty Outside Le Constellation, Federico Gelle, a 17-year-old from Italy's Tuscany region, lit a candle for so many teens his own age who had perished.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Croak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/croak. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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