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squall 1 of 2

noun

Definition of squallnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

squall

2 of 2

verb

ˈskwȯl How to pronounce squall (audio)
as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally the baby squalled in pain

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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 squall
Noun
What had once been a possible squall on the horizon, another dose of unpredict-able Pacara weather, now felt like a credible threat; the clouds had begun to travel. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026 Cold rain fell in an endless drizzle, broken only by harder squalls. — Fred Bear, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026
Verb
The workweek is followed by an Arctic cold front with snow showers and squalls likely late Friday before the bottom falls out once again, which brings us to the weekend. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026 Unlike longer-lasting snowstorms, squalls move fast and can catch drivers off guard, especially when roads appear mostly clear just moments before conditions deteriorate. — Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squall
  1. storm
  2. commotion
  3. shriek
  4. tempest
  5. disturbance
  6. scream
  7. thunderstorm
  8. hurry
Noun
  • Gen storms downstairs after finding out that Luke sent Joy flowers, and Aesha follows.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Tonight in Los Angeles, Hollywood is buzzing ahead of the biggest night in television, as stars of the small screen storm the Emmys.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of storm
Noun
  • No one had seen anyone enter the property or even heard any commotion that morning.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • According to the warrant, the victim was only able to escape when a coach heard the commotion, entered the locker room and told the boys to settle down.
    — Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • The addition of the electric guitar, drums and Jack White’s shrieking vocals transformed it into a rock song, while also keeping its signature folksiness.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of shriek
Noun
  • We’re told that Robert tried to swim after his parents in the middle of a tempest while holding his war hammer.
    — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Although Congress doesn’t pass many laws these days, the White House has been a furious tempest of executive orders.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tempest
Noun
  • The person upstairs came down, confronted the man involved in the disturbance and shot him at least once, according to the release.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The ecological consequences of losing what remains Some coastal old-growth stands on Vancouver Island have not experienced a major disturbance since the end of the last ice age some 12,000 years ago.
    — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • There were hugs and high fives, and jubilant screams from a winning locker room could be heard clearly in the adjacent news conference room and by anyone walking through the hallway.
    — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Kolb also pushed another protester who was screaming about getting wool off the runway, covering the protester’s mouth and pulling a banner out of his hands, until he was escorted out.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • However, by Thursday night, any isolated afternoon thunderstorm east of DFW will quickly fade with the loss of daytime heating.
    — Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This thunderstorm is producing an excessive amount of deadly cloud to ground lightning.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of thunderstorm
Noun
  • For the day, the Steelers had four sacks, four quarterback hurries, three additional tackles for loss and four passes batted down by defensive linemen, and four of Atlanta’s offensive linemen were called for holding at least once.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Armondo Blount had Miami’s only sack, and PFF credited UM with only seven quarterback hurries (three by Blount, and one apiece by Omar Thornton, Chase Smith, Lightfoot and Justin Scott).
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurry

Browse Nearby Words

squalidness
squall
squalled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squall. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squall

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squall

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