1
as in to talk
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities
that stool pigeon squealed to the police about the whole smuggling operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
hoped that a DVD player in the backseat would keep the kids from squealing about long car rides
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 squeal
Caroline Lillian Schopp, Artforum, 13 May 2026
The adults settle into seats facing each other while children from different families run behind them, squealing, playing, crying.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Mary Lattimore’s harp spangles the background, while Camille Getz drags her violin across the track, a clever acoustic rendering of a classic shoegaze guitar squeal.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squeal
Verb
The first twenty minutes involve longtime Holzinger mentor-cum–ensemble member Renée Copraij spanking the gleefully squealing Annina Machaz.
—Caroline Lillian Schopp, Artforum, 13 May 2026
The adults settle into seats facing each other while children from different families run behind them, squealing, playing, crying.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
Once inside, however, the miscreant sister communicates (via walkie-talkie) in a squeal of wordless agony.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Mary Lattimore’s harp spangles the background, while Camille Getz drags her violin across the track, a clever acoustic rendering of a classic shoegaze guitar squeal.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squeal
Verb
-
There were cartoons while dressing children, evening news while cooking dinner, and, before bed, families watched mutely as onscreen families laughed and talked.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Sehic said there were many people at the restaurant at the time, and said Campbell was talking to someone else at the bar when he was approached by Harakh.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
As the base runners scampered home, tying the game, Chicago players and fans alike shrieked with glee.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
What is a better visual metaphor for being a woman in America than the sight of Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) tearing through the streets of Widow’s Bay, shrieking for help and finding none, while an out-of-shape freak stalks her and somehow manages to catch up to her?—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Trump has frequently complained that Obama’s deal included the transport of cash from the US to Iran.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Plus, who can complain when the gorgeous Block Island — which, unlike Rhode Island, is actually an island — is described as New England’s Caribbean?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Native to North America, eastern screech-owls are mostly gray, reddish-brown or brown with yellow eyes, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But in early June last year, the Red Sox entered a series in New York at 30-34, nine games behind the first-place Yankees, before going 10-3 in their next 13 games, finishing the year on a 59-39 run and squeaking into the playoffs.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
6 June 2026
-
In the end, the club squeaked by with a 1-0 win in the final game of the season, keeping its place in the top tier of La Liga.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
As if each of us isn’t a walking embodiment of our moment, clueless and attuned at once, screaming about one thing and in total denial about another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The first thing many visitors see from their airplane windows is the giant LUMEN screaming up through the Seattle gloom.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Writing this column has truly fed my soul, never mind given me an outlet for all manner of grief and grievances, whining and winnings.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
The driver is seen singing happily to himself, then glancing out his window with a slight look of concern as the sound of the jet’s whining engines begins on the recording.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The pilot allegedly used squawk code 7500 during the incident — the air traffic control signal referencing a plane hijacking, Metro reported.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
He was missed — especially vocally — since Gill’s angelic voice does not, in any way shape or form, resemble Walsh’s charmingly out-of-pitch squawk-talk style.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeal. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
