1
as in storm
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow)
a snow squall is expected tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the annual squall created when the store holds its biggest sale of the year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squall
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
This precaution is essential to account for reduced visibility and the potential unpredictability of road conditions during a squall.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
The surges of Arctic air will generate rounds of flurries and squalls in certain locations and may assist igniting storms with more widespread snow.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squall
Noun
Stunningly losing your quarterback 60 minutes from the Super Bowl isn’t a squall.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
This precaution is essential to account for reduced visibility and the potential unpredictability of road conditions during a squall.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Snow squalls in the Detroit area caused a number of car crashes on Interstate 75 on Monday, prompting the Michigan State Police to close the northbound highway and causing major backups for travelers.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
The surges of Arctic air will generate rounds of flurries and squalls in certain locations and may assist igniting storms with more widespread snow.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squall
Noun
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Officials say the storm brought 2 to 4 feet of snow across Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
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The country, which is the biggest island in the Caribbean, has also been hit by Category 5 storms, most recently with Hurricane Irma in 2017, which killed at least 10 people, according to the Herald’s archives.—
David Goodhue
March 16,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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No shove, no commotion, no clue.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
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Multiple people were escorted out of the room amid the commotion.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The alternative would be to shriek at them for their hypocrisy.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For now, Buttigieg has chosen to wait out the tempests in Traverse City, the hometown of his husband, Chasten, a former schoolteacher.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
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What started as a joyous snowball fight Monday in New York City morphed into a political tempest after residents began pelting police officers with snow and ice.—
Tim Craig,
Washington Post,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At Usangu Expedition Camp in Tanzania, for example, guides have replaced bright spotlights with thermal cameras so guests can observe critters with minimal disturbance.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
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Even the current first-line oral treatment, fexinidazole, must be taken for 10 days and comes with severe side effects such as nausea, vomiting and heart-rhythm disturbances.—
Fran Kritz,
NPR,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Despite the high tech projections and precise lighting and sound effects and the whole thing about people turning into rhinoceri, this a wondrously theatrical production, based on real people talking and emoting and screaming and waving their arms about.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
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Slayr raps, sings, and screams across this thing, producing most of it himself with frequent contributions from the producer wa.—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
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Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Kellner grounds into another double play, bringing up the seventh in a hurry.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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Boozer had the presence of mind, though, to get his own rebound off the block and pass the ball back out to his brother rather than trying to throw up another shot in a hurry.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squall. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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