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
Video showed the bird squawking while Fairbarn handled it, and prosecutors said Peachy felt pain when it was pulled by its feet. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Video showed the bird squawking while Fairbarn handled it and prosecutors said Peachy felt pain when it was pulled by its feet. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squawking
  1. vocal
  2. complaining
  3. outspoken
  4. screaming
  5. blatant
  6. whining
  7. vociferous
  8. moaning
Adjective
  • Marshall’s campaign has claimed without evidence that the Democratic nominee bussed in the vocal audience members.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Its warped vocal harmonies are ripe and sour, including guest appearances from the band’s friends, and off-kilter squiggles on steel guitar deviate from their usual pattern.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of vocal
Verb
  • That March, a seventy-year-old patient from a wealthy Cypriot family, Evie Lanitis, arrived at BioMed, complaining of a host of minor maladies, including bursitis in her toes, dental pain, and digestive issues.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This was the first opportunity, Ubovic said, to do something tangible, instead of just complaining.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of complaining
Adjective
  • Controversy was never very far from Barr, who has been open about her own mental health issues and defiantly outspoken about her politics, which have grown increasingly right-wing and conspiratorial.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The longtime community and labor organizer has been an outspoken progressive voice in the state legislature since she was elected in 2020.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of outspoken
Verb
  • Warren joked, as several audience members had been screaming to hear his hit during his set.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Four pledges at a Texas State University fraternity were arrested on Tuesday after an 18-year-old was allegedly forced into a pickup truck and heard screaming, according to police.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of screaming
Adjective
  • This blatant robbery is the pending bill to ban the 68 Central Park horse carriages.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The definition further added that neglect should involve blatant disregard of parental responsibilities resulting in a real, significant and imminent risk of harm to the child.
    — Jennifer L. Brinkley, The Conversation, 19 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
  • There, the nationalist instincts driving Rubio’s speech found more vociferous expression.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of vociferous
Verb
  • It's been a big few months for Austin Abrams moaning and groaning his way through some of the worst situations imaginable.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 28 Oct. 2026.

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