squeal
1 of 2verb
ˈskwēl 
squealed; squealing; squeals
intransitive verb
1
: to make a shrill cry or noise
2
a
: to turn informer
squeal to the police
b
: complain, protest
transitive verb
1
: to express with or as if with a squeal
2
: to cause to make a loud shrill noise
squealing the tires
squealer noun
squeal
2 of 2noun
: a shrill sharp cry or noise
Synonyms
Verb
- fink
- grass (on) [British slang]
- inform
- rat (on)
- sing
- snitch
- split (on) [British]
- squeak
- talk
- tell (on)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The car squealed to a stop. He squealed the tires and drove off. She squealed to the teacher. “Let me go,” she squealed. Noun She heard the pig's squeals.
Recent Examples on the Web
San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Sadly, its all-season tires squeal under less duress, and brake-pedal responses are inconsistent the harder it's worked. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2022 With realistic details inside and out, working head and tail lights, and a controller that can be easily operated by small hands, kids will squeal with delight over this mini Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2022 Kids will squeal with joy going down the water slide with friends to see who gets to the bottom first. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2022 Children in seersucker suits, church dresses and all manner of gender-neutral Easter best will squeal with glee. Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2022 Hefner had a cache of tapes and videos of orgies and drug consumption to use in case anyone threatened to squeal, according to Theodore and others. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2022 What did people connect to, squeal over and smash, as the kids, say, that heart button for? Vogue, 23 Dec. 2021 The children would squeal in delight, being none the wiser. Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021 Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2022 Among them was Pierre Marie Rose, Francillon Makenson's wife, who let out a squeal of joy for her family of three. Rosa Flores And Julia Jones, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Finally, a loud, delighted squeal filled the hallway outside. Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2022 Yet, there wasn't a hint of protest from the engine, a drop of fade from the carbon-ceramic brakes, or a whimper of squeal from the tires – the Ultimae laughed off my punishment and challenged me for more. Michael Harley, Forbes, 4 July 2022 The row behind me let out an electric squeal, and the driver crackled over the loudspeaker, telling us to wave our acacia around outside the windows. Rowan Moore Gerety, The Atlantic, 18 May 2022 Something snaps, the sound system emits a painful squeal and the rear-projection screen flashes like crazy, while Gainsbourg writhes on cue in her designer shades and daring red mini dress. Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 May 2022 Has that child-like squeal and excitement, courtesy of the worm, ever gotten any credit, in any column, by any outdoor writer in the past 20, 30 or even 40 years? Jim Gronaw, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2022 Sean Jackson’s mother let out a squeal of excitement as her son FaceTimed here from the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn’s walk-on running back was a walk-on no more. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 2 Apr. 2022 See More
Verb
Maybe Arkansas fans are quick to squeal because of something that happened decades ago. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Sadly, its all-season tires squeal under less duress, and brake-pedal responses are inconsistent the harder it's worked. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2022 With realistic details inside and out, working head and tail lights, and a controller that can be easily operated by small hands, kids will squeal with delight over this mini Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 4 Aug. 2022 Kids will squeal with joy going down the water slide with friends to see who gets to the bottom first. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2022 Children in seersucker suits, church dresses and all manner of gender-neutral Easter best will squeal with glee. Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2022 Hefner had a cache of tapes and videos of orgies and drug consumption to use in case anyone threatened to squeal, according to Theodore and others. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2022 What did people connect to, squeal over and smash, as the kids, say, that heart button for? Vogue, 23 Dec. 2021 The children would squeal in delight, being none the wiser. Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2021 Noun
Eventually Thor or perhaps Zeus got bored flinging lightning bolts, and at 11:28 the 963 pulled away with an electric motor squeal—the bassy V8 only firing up at the end of the pit lane. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2022 Among them was Pierre Marie Rose, Francillon Makenson's wife, who let out a squeal of joy for her family of three. Rosa Flores And Julia Jones, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Finally, a loud, delighted squeal filled the hallway outside. Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2022 Yet, there wasn't a hint of protest from the engine, a drop of fade from the carbon-ceramic brakes, or a whimper of squeal from the tires – the Ultimae laughed off my punishment and challenged me for more. Michael Harley, Forbes, 4 July 2022 The row behind me let out an electric squeal, and the driver crackled over the loudspeaker, telling us to wave our acacia around outside the windows. Rowan Moore Gerety, The Atlantic, 18 May 2022 Something snaps, the sound system emits a painful squeal and the rear-projection screen flashes like crazy, while Gainsbourg writhes on cue in her designer shades and daring red mini dress. Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 May 2022 Has that child-like squeal and excitement, courtesy of the worm, ever gotten any credit, in any column, by any outdoor writer in the past 20, 30 or even 40 years? Jim Gronaw, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2022 Sean Jackson’s mother let out a squeal of excitement as her son FaceTimed here from the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn’s walk-on running back was a walk-on no more. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 2 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English squelen, of imitative origin
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
1747, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing squeal
Kids Definition
squeal 1 of 2
verb
ˈskwēl
squealed; squealing
1
: to make a sharp long high-pitched cry or noise
2
: inform sense 2
squeal
2 of 2noun
: a sharp high-pitched cry or noise
squeal 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to squeak
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities that stool pigeon squealed to the police about the whole smuggling operation Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- squeak
- talk
- inform
- snitch
- fink
- sing
- betray
- split (on)
- grass (on)
- drop a dime (on)
- tattle
- tell (on)
- turn in
- rat (on)
- give away
- backstab
- blab
- cross
- double-cross
- sell (out)
- tip (off)
- two-time
2
as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally the child squealed with frustration Synonyms & Similar Words
- shriek
- scream
- yell
- screech
- howl
- cry
- yelp
- shrill
- squall
- shout
- wail
- squawk
- caterwaul
- yowl
- yawp
- keen
- bawl
- holler
- bay
- thunder
- vociferate
- yaup
- call
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whisper
- murmur
- mutter
3
as in to scream
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely hoped that a DVD player in the backseat would keep the kids from squealing about long car rides Synonyms & Similar Words
- scream
- complain
- whine
- moan
- mutter
- growl
- squawk
- grumble
- cry
- whimper
- worry
- bitch
- wail
- kick
- murmur
- caterwaul
- holler
- yowl
- yammer
- bellyache
- grouse
- bleat
- nag
- yawp
- kvetch
- beef
- keen
- whinge
- gripe
- inveigh
- grizzle
- grouch
- grump
- croak
- fuss
- carp
- crab
- repine
- protest
- kick up a stink
- sob
- kick up a fuss
- maunder
- yaup
- quibble
- cavil
- blubber
- lament
- fret
- stew
- bewail
- bemoan
- deplore
- quarrel (with)
- object (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delight
- rejoice
- accept
- take
- tolerate
- endure
- bear
- cheer
- crow
- applaud
- countenance
- commend
squeal
2 of 2noun
as in screech
Synonyms & Similar Words
- screech
- squeak
- squawk
- chirp
- cackle
- roar
- howl
- yelp
- cluck
- coo
- grunt
- yowl
- caterwaul
- honk
- whinny
- bark
- yip
- bray
- peep
- bleat
- croak
- low
- moo
- bellow
- yap
- meow
- caw
- neigh
- hoot
- crow
- oink
- mew
- trumpet
- calling
- quack
- blat
- squall
- crake
- bay
- cheep
- twitter
- miaow
- cry
- tu-whit tu-whoo
- call
- note