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

39 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

33 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

28 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

9 3.7

Harsh, rough sound or voice that is unpleasant to hear

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

squealing

vssquawky

7 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is louder and more harshly birdlike than thin piercing sounds

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

blaring

vssquawky

3 4.4

A very loud, unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is harsher and birdlike rather than only very loud volume

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

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

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

cackly

vssquawky

1 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

stridulous

vssquawky

1 9.9

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

is louder and more birdlike than fine grating or creaking noises

screaky

vssquawky

6.6

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

is louder and more birdlike than mechanical creaking noises

Antonyms

pleasant

323 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

soft

254 1.0

Gentle and not strong for light or sound

How Harsh

raucous

28 7.1

squawky

1 7.5

grating

8 6.2

squeaky

39 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.