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
Olivia Evans, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The squawking plaything can test even Bluey’s patience.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
The filmmaker shows a strong handle over the film’s fanciful tone and fitfully filthy sense of humor, and he’s credited with composing the film’s score full of squawking brass instruments and skittish strings in addition to writing, directing and editing.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
You are brought to your senses, this time by squawking and the rapid beating of wings.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 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
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
Verb
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
The filmmaker shows a strong handle over the film’s fanciful tone and fitfully filthy sense of humor, and he’s credited with composing the film’s score full of squawking brass instruments and skittish strings in addition to writing, directing and editing.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
You are brought to your senses, this time by squawking and the rapid beating of wings.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squawking
Adjective
-
His 2025 tape, WOMB, embodied this through his pensive grumbles over wispy vocal chops; each bar that cut through the fog was steeped in sober gravitas.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
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No matter your attachment style, listeners will latch onto Kehlani for its nostalgic references, impressive vocal arrangements, pitch-perfect collaborations, and refreshing perspectives on relationships.—
Adelle Platon,
VIBE.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere, Super Mario Galaxy is hardly complaining about coming in second ruling the roost for weeks, since it’s now focused on becoming the first film of the year to join the billion-dollar club after finishing Sunday with a global total of $871 million.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
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The dog-waste donnybrook was similar to another recent clash in Brooklyn that saw a 75-year-old grandmother jumped and beaten for complaining that a dog walker was not cleaning up the pooch’s poop.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Lai, an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party who founded the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, was convicted in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring with others to publish seditious articles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The outspoken councilmember, whose district includes Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and the San Fernando Valley, filed her paperwork on February 7.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the Sonora stage Sunday, the 22-year-old Newark rapper-producer who arrived at the current screaming catharsis via a circuit of molting SoundCloud-era microgenres was at once dangerously commanding and euphoric while tearing through highlights from last year’s Revengeseekerz.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
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The pressures of fame and the pains of Michael’s brand of friendlessness are barely explored, beyond the requisite scenes of screaming fans crowding outside the family estate and a terrified Michael attempting to get away from them (while still politely waving).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Biopics entertain their own special relationship to the truth, but how often is one railed as inaccurate to the point of blatant dishonesty?—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These complaints demonstrate a clear and consistent pattern of obfuscation and blatant disregard of campaign finance laws.—
John Gates,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On the other end, the Rockets were a complete mess, dissolving in two whining technical fouls in the third quarter that sealed their fate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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This is why all the whining and complaining from small market teams across the sport is manipulative nonsense.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Advertisers remain wary of the format, worried that appearing alongside a vociferous anchor or a scene tied to news about war or climate change will turn off potential customers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Those vociferous, flat-out denials had been enough to sway the politicians and union leaders who endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, until the weight of evidence made Swalwell’s assertions untenable.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But a male voice could be heard moaning in the background.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squawking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squawking. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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