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
David Amsden, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025
But longtime church organist Alice Glick, who started in 1991's Season 2 (when the first George Bush was president), croaked.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 Dec. 2025
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
His character's ominous smirk and froggy croak are grittier than the gnarled wood of the lodge where the film is set.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for croak
Verb
Come nightfall, the chatter of a dizzying array of bird species (tanagers, toucans, motmots) gives way to a symphony of croaking frogs.
—David Amsden, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025
But longtime church organist Alice Glick, who started in 1991's Season 2 (when the first George Bush was president), croaked.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 26 Dec. 2025
Noun
His gravelly croak sounds melodic but grave.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
His character's ominous smirk and froggy croak are grittier than the gnarled wood of the lodge where the film is set.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for croak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for croak
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
Verb
-
The investigation is ongoing and the identities of the people who died have not been released.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
One infant receiving the Mead Johnson product died — from sepsis, the article said.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And years later, when the group splintered into increasingly militant factions, some took part in a disastrous bank robbery that killed an innocent guard and two police officers—three men who were just doing their jobs that day, and who left behind their own kids, their own families.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Three people were killed when a tour helicopter broke apart near Honolulu in April 2019, and that December seven people died - including three children - when one crashed in turbulent weather near the famed Na Pali Coast.—
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And Israel had been conducting a campaign to assassinate Iranian scientists, which made the prospect of lethal reprisal highly plausible.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Tyler, Andrea’s making the point that on the surface there are talks happening but there are no real direct negotiations at those highest levels, in part because so many people have been assassinated.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 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
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
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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
-
If the Tribune cannot find the story in the tragic events of a young, dedicated firefighter perishing in an arson fire while searching for victims to rescue, maybe leave this story for the journalists who managed to treat the victims of this story with dignity.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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Although no monument can remember the 168 people who perished that day, the thousands injured or the countless families changed forever by one heinous act, the memorial is tasteful, poignant and impactful.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Croak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/croak. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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