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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squawking
  1. vocal
  2. complaining
  3. outspoken
  4. screaming
  5. blatant
  6. whining
  7. vociferous
  8. moaning
Adjective
  • Having Moro, super, super smart, great communicator, the vocal leader of the group.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Playing a raging narcissist intoxicated with her own vocal calisthenics, Scherzinger gets one of the movie’s rare amusing moments, warbling in airy Mariah Carey melisma style even while weeping.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of vocal
Verb
  • Put another way—and this is evidently how Gray saw it—Kanarek was always complaining.
    — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Piles of unopened mail, losing track of cash or checks and complaining about not having enough money are indicators that elders may need someone to take over their finances, according to the Elder Care Alliance.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaining
Adjective
  • The editing skews toward older candidates, working parents and outspoken candidates, none of it visible before any check starts.
    — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Over lunch at the Santa Clara Hilton — a short drive from 49ers headquarters — Edwards shared about the plights of outspoken athletes such as Wilma Rudolph, Jesse Owens, Rose Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Tommie Smith, John Carlos and more.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Verb
  • At the same time, Plog placed a phone call to a relative and can be heard moaning and screaming in pain.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Amazon doesn’t have to worry about affiliates screaming if the show bleeds into their late local newscasts, nor FCC overlord Brendan Carr having a meltdown over an unbleeped John Mulaney bit.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of screaming
Adjective
  • The Founders never predicted that a president, his Cabinet, Department of Justice, Supreme Court and Congress would not challenge the blatant illegality that has been happening over the past two years.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sometimes the signs have been as blatant as the night Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions being his birthday (May 19).
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of blatant
Verb
  • Still, to Sandy, Joe’s whining is no reason to write him off altogether.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • And everyone stop whining to their mom about the other one – or in this case, a federal judge.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of whining
Adjective
  • 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
  • Among the voices decrying the Met’s decision to lionize Galliano is New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has recently faced uproar over his vociferous criticism of Israel.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of vociferous
Verb
  • At the same time, Plog placed a phone call to a relative and can be heard moaning and screaming in pain.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Hall wrote in his report that Hamilton lay down in the backseat of the police vehicle, moaning and not responding, prompting first responders to give him Narcan.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of moaning

Browse Nearby Words

squawkers
squawking
squawks
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Cite this Entry

“Squawking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squawking. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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