squawk

1 of 2

verb

squawked; squawking; squawks

intransitive verb

1
: to utter a harsh abrupt scream
2
: to complain or protest loudly or vehemently
opponents of the bill squawked
squawker noun

squawk

2 of 2

noun

1
: a harsh abrupt scream
2
: a noisy complaint

Examples of squawk in a Sentence

Verb The customers squawked about the high prices. Opponents of the project have been squawking. Noun if we don't receive any squawks, we can assume the change was acceptable
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Insects hummed from the grasses, green lizards slept in the trees, and resting water birds, spooked by our approaching footsteps, squawked and flew away. Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024 Help a squawking duck find its missing babies, for example, or knock over jars of purple jam on behalf of an ancient, whiskery cat. Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 13 June 2024
Noun
There’s no dialogue, at least none decipherable to human ears — everything is a symphony of meows, woofs, squawks, grunts, squeaks, squeals and simian cries. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024 Flocks of sparrows and parrots chirp and squawk in the palms overhead. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 9 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for squawk 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably blend of squall and squeak

First Known Use

Verb

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of squawk was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near squawk

Cite this Entry

“Squawk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squawk. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

squawk

1 of 2 verb
1
: to utter a harsh short scream
2
: to complain or protest loudly or forcefully
students squawked about the new dress code
squawker noun

squawk

2 of 2 noun
1
: a harsh short scream
2
: a noisy complaint

More from Merriam-Webster on squawk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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