squawking 1 of 2

adjective

as in vocal
engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest the PTA meeting was filled with squawking parents, voicing their dislike of the new vice-principal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

squawking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of squawk
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely she squawked on for hours about how salespeople were always rude to her

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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 squawking
Adjective
If another family attempts to invade that space, they are hurriedly pushed away by loud squawking and aggressive flying. — Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
Insider tip Be sure to grab a seat by the pool or in one of the outdoor sitting areas in the late afternoon to hear parrots whistling and squawking. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026 Pairing Aflac, which has thrived with commercials featuring an anthropomorphic duck squawking out its name, and Affleck. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 Jackie warmed to his presence, and Stormy stopped squawking at him. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 On a recent day, a flock of some 30 were perched in the distance — scattering when a pair of squawking oystercatchers alerted them to visitors. — ABC News, 30 May 2026 Around the museum, children can be heard squawking through a flight simulator of a UPS Boeing 747-8F to a pretend command tower learning to leverage flight technology. — Olivia Evans, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 The squawking plaything can test even Bluey’s patience. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026 Some environmentalists are squawking, however, because the iconic wood stork will soon lose its federal protection, arguing climate change and environmental policy rollbacks continue to threaten its wetland habitat. — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026 One way transponders do that is by squawking, or sending a code to air traffic control to identify itself and provide information, like altitude. — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squawking
  1. vocal
  2. complaining
  3. outspoken
  4. screaming
  5. blatant
  6. whining
  7. vociferous
  8. moaning
Adjective
  • The South London artist channels Disney soundtrack tropes into claustrophobic strings and drones, while a handful of vocal tracks hint darkly at real-world family drama.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Best Pop Solo Performance can be a space where the Recording Academy recognizes — and perhaps awards — artists with songs that truly connect with the world, regardless of vocal chops.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of vocal
Verb
  • That would drive up yields on French bonds, making borrowing to fund that spending even more expensive—and thus worsen the problem that the rioters are complaining about.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Voters are not going to make legislators do a better job by grumbling and complaining.
    — Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of complaining
Adjective
  • Debra Tate, Sharon Tate’s sister, has been an outspoken advocate for keeping Krenwinkel and other former followers of Manson behind bars.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Many industry critics were also outspoken when Netflix's studio and streaming deal was on the table, with particular focus on the future of movies staying in theaters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Verb
  • Research on hitting objects does not support it as a way to reduce anger, and there are too few studies of screaming to conclude its effects.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Onstage, Slayyyter, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, is a force, constantly moving around the stage, thrashing her head along to the music and screaming the lyrics to her songs.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of screaming
Adjective
  • As election season starts in much of the world, officials note an uptick in both blatant and subtle uses of social media to sow lies among voters.
    — the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
  • How successful the gerrymandering actually was remains to be seen — Republicans are polling poorly in the Lone Star State, perhaps in part because of their blatant attempt to cheat voters out of their voices.
    — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of blatant
Verb
  • While the left spent all week whining about Sophie Cunningham's hat and firing squad best practices, us PATRIOTS were biding our time, keeping our heads down, and grinding towards another weekend.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Dogs may actually improve our sleep habits by forcing us to adjust to consistent bedtime schedules — as anyone with a sleepy, whining dog can confirm.
    — Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of whining
Adjective
  • The Sun, who now begin the process of relocating to Houston for next season, gave their loyal, vociferous and orange-clad fans a goodbye present, a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo, just a little something to remember them by.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • It's led by Alexei Zhuravlev, who holds its only seat in the Duma and is known for vociferous attacks on the West on state TV.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of vociferous
Verb
  • For a cold moment the silence locked a grip on our table, though it was broken, at the edges, by the golf commentators moaning and harrumphing, Rory McIlroy having had a canary on a seventeenth fairway somewhere this championship Sunday.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • By the time Fowler gave up trying to put one in Carruthers, DiLiberato could hear her client moaning and see blood oozing out of his puncture wounds.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of moaning

Browse Nearby Words

squawkers
squawking
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Cite this Entry

“Squawking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squawking. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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