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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
she squawked on for hours about how salespeople were always rude to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squawking
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
On a cool autumn morning in what used to be a bustling neighborhood, the only sounds came from squawking finches and juncos – not quite a rising phoenix.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
The crates filled with squawking birds are then stacked on a pallet and forklifted into a holding area.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
Helm can’t see into the growling squawking forest to know what’s occurring in there.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Marty’s still stumbling around the One Well compound when Phil — tarred and feathered by his Aryan brothers, presumably for squawking to Lee back in episode two — runs screaming into his arms.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
The squawking birds from the Oscar-winning short For the Birds (2000) have shown up in two Pixar features, in very similar, blink-and-you'll-miss-it contexts.
—Kelly Connolly, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Although the county anklet was squawking about a violation, the state anklet was silent.
—Robert S. Gable, IEEE Spectrum, 20 July 2017
Verb
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
On a cool autumn morning in what used to be a bustling neighborhood, the only sounds came from squawking finches and juncos – not quite a rising phoenix.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
The crates filled with squawking birds are then stacked on a pallet and forklifted into a holding area.
—Rene Ebersole, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
Helm can’t see into the growling squawking forest to know what’s occurring in there.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Marty’s still stumbling around the One Well compound when Phil — tarred and feathered by his Aryan brothers, presumably for squawking to Lee back in episode two — runs screaming into his arms.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
The squawking birds from the Oscar-winning short For the Birds (2000) have shown up in two Pixar features, in very similar, blink-and-you'll-miss-it contexts.
—Kelly Connolly, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Although the county anklet was squawking about a violation, the state anklet was silent.
—Robert S. Gable, IEEE Spectrum, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squawking
Adjective
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How do non-signature whistles fit into this vocal system?—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Aura is designed specifically for household cats and dogs, with AI trained to recognize their behaviors, movements and vocal cues.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The complaining witness in the case is Robert Held, a local attorney who has often protested at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in nearby Broadview.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Spousal involvement with an AI is a growing reason for divorce, with partners complaining about the amount of time and money their spouses were spending on their AI relationship.—
Lori Andrews,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Omar has been an outspoken critic of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations surge in the Twin Cities, repeatedly calling for Noem’s impeachment.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Jan. 2026
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In conversations with state lawmakers who have been outspoken on gun rights, and with two Idaho attorneys who focus on constitutional rights, the Idaho Statesman heard a range of reactions to Pretti’s shooting.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under the watchful eye of sheriffs deputies who threatened to ticket anyone caught standing in the road, along with a small number of National Guard members, the protesters took turns screaming swears and warming up in nearby parked cars.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
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An exodus of prosecutors who didn’t care for his staff screaming sessions and boorish press conferences.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the public defender’s account, Bell appeared at best ambivalent in the face of blatant prosecutorial misconduct.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
29 Jan. 2026
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Physician executives worry less about blatant misinformation than about patients making small, seemingly reasonable changes — skipping doses, stopping medications, or adjusting timing — based on confident but incomplete explanations.—
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some had noisy bearings, which could sound like a whining noise.—
John Paul,
The Providence Journal,
16 Jan. 2026
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Illinois Republicans have turned whining into an artform.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Fink was formerly vociferous about the importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing, and has argued that climate change is reshaping finance, creating an imperative for executives to reallocate their capital to address the crisis accordingly.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
20 Jan. 2026
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Someone else who has been addressing artificial intelligence head on has been Julia Roberts, who has been one of its most vociferous critics and refuses to even use ChatGPT.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squawking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squawking. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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