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squawk

squawk

21 4.9
A loud, harsh sound often made by a bird
  • noun
  • /skwɔk/
translation icon : chillido
  • The magpie gave a grating squawk and swaggered down to take the squirrel's place.
  • a loud squawk
  • hear a squawk
  • bird squawk

Where the, the, the name sounds like the thing, like if I say squawk, right?

Examples

  • From an upstairs room, Kathryn heard the distant squawk of a cartoon character on a television.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • At that moment, we heard the squawk of the police Caprice radio.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The market was filled with cages barely larger than the squawking birds they contained.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The racket is deafening, and he thinks that the horrible squawking will go on for hours, perhaps forever.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The klaxon's blaring squawk echoed across the water like the mating call of a monster gander.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The path wound past a cage of parrots that greeted him with rude squawks and flapping wings.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The loud squawk of the seagulls echoed across the beach as they fought over scraps of food.

  • During the nature walk, we were startled by the sudden squawk of a parrot perched in the trees.

  • In the early morning, the squawk of the geese flying overhead filled the air with noise.

Synonyms

scream
vssquawk
596 1.0

A loud high cry made when someone is afraid or hurt

is used for birds and people rather than mainly human voices
shriek
vssquawk
43 2.7

A loud high sound showing fear, pain or excitement

is a loud harsh sound that does not always show emotion
screech
vssquawk
39 2.9

A loud, high, sharp sound that startles people

is harsh and loud but less piercing
squeal
vssquawk
34 2.9

A long, high sound showing pain, fear, or strong excitement

is usually shorter and harsher rather than long and drawn out
caw
vssquawk
14 7.1

A harsh, loud sound made by a crow or raven

is a loud harsh noise not limited to specific large bird calls
crow
vssquawk
9 1.4

A loud, high call made by a rooster

is a general loud harsh noise for birds or people rather than only roosters
scray
vssquawk
  • UK
1 9.9

A sudden loud, high sound like a bird's cry

is harsh and high-pitched but not necessarily sudden
wheep
vssquawk
9.7

A short high whistling sound made by small birds

is harsher and louder rather than gentle whistling

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

586 1.0

To speak very quietly using only breath so one person can hear

Compounds

1 6.3

A loudspeaker used to talk to people in a building

How Loud

shriek
43 2.7
squawk
21 4.9
squeak
22 1.9
chirp
18 1.6
peep
14 1.0

Surface Forms

squawk singular
squawks plural

Etymology

Squawk is a word that was made to copy the sharp noise birds make, so it sounds like the cry itself; a squawk is 'a loud, harsh noise', just like a parrot or gull giving a sudden call.