squawky

1 7.5

A loud harsh sound like a bird's cry that is unpleasant

adjective
/ˈskwɔːki/

: estridente

You can hear it in the squawky sounds of television, movies, and rock videos, in the whir of monster computers running the world's business.
squawky voice
squawky radio

Examples

I got into his unmarked PD, a white Jeep Cherokee with a squawky police radio.

Fiction book (1998)
Now, here was something odd: when I fumbled the phone to my ear, I heard the unmistakable squawky voice of my nephew Josh Bullard.

Fiction book (2002)
But the phone was on the ground, and a squawky little voice was coming out: "Pat? Pat?

Fiction book (1996)
Her voice is squawky like a crow's.
The tone of his voice, squawky with the onset of puberty, told me otherwise.
Their screechy, squawky voices fill the air of the forest.

Synonyms

squeaky

vssquawky

67 1.3

Making a high, sharp sound like a mouse or hinge

is harsher and louder with a rough animal call rather than small high sounds

shrill

vssquawky

31 4.8

A very high, sharp sound that is unpleasant and loud

is more about loud, rough bird sounds rather than just high pitch

raucous

vssquawky

31 7.1

Making a loud, rough, and unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is more like a sharp bird call than general noisy harshness

scratchy

vssquawky

14 3.7

Harsh, rough sound or voice that is unpleasant to hear

is sharper and louder, more like an animal call than rough texture

gravelly

vssquawky

7 6.5

A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy

is higher and more piercing, resembling animal cries rather than roughness

cacophonous

vssquawky

2 8.4

Making a loud, harsh noise that is unpleasant to hear

is more a single loud birdlike noise rather than mixed discordant sounds

screechy

vssquawky

2 5.4

A high, harsh, unpleasant sound like a loud scream

is generally louder and birdlike rather than only high-pitched sharpness

blaring

vssquawky

1 4.4

A very loud, unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is harsher and birdlike rather than only very loud volume

shrieky

vssquawky

1 7.2

Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears

is more about rough birdlike harshness than sheer piercing tone

screamy

vssquawky

1 8.2

Very loud and high in sound like a scream

is more animal-like and rough rather than resembling human cries

squealing

vssquawky

1 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is louder and more harshly birdlike than thin piercing sounds

cackly

vssquawky

8.7

A harsh, high laugh that sounds like a hen

is more generally loud and birdlike rather than tied to a specific animal sound

screaky

vssquawky

6.6

A high, thin sound a door or floor makes when moving

is louder and more birdlike than mechanical creaking noises

stridulous

vssquawky

9.9

Making a loud, harsh, grating sound like some insects make

is louder and more birdlike than fine grating or creaking noises

Antonyms

pleasant

314 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

soft

182 1.0

Gentle and not strong for light or sound

How Harsh

raucous

31 7.1

squawky

1 7.5

grating

1 6.2

squeaky

67 1.3

Surface Forms

squawky positive

Morphology

squawky = squawk (transparent) = squawk + y

The adjective is a straightforward adjectival formation from 'squawk' with '-y' meaning 'characterized by' or 'having the quality of a squawk'.

Etymology

The word squawky comes from squawk, a word that copies the loud, harsh cry of birds. So, squawky describes a sound that is loud, harsh, and unpleasant, like a parrot or chicken call.