croak 1 of 2

verb

ˈkrōk How to pronounce croak (audio)
Definition of croaknext
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely the cranky patient was always croaking to the nurses about something

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2
as in to die
slang to stop living I wouldn't go around saying your great-grandmother "croaked"

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3
as in to kill
slang to deprive of life "I croaked the old bugger," he bragged

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4
as in to assassinate
slang to put to death deliberately hooligans had croaked the street corner wino just for the hell of it

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croak

2 of 2

noun

as in squawk

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of croak
Verb
Ravens circle overhead, croaking at my presence in defiance. — Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Come nightfall, the chatter of a dizzying array of bird species (tanagers, toucans, motmots) gives way to a symphony of croaking frogs. — David Amsden, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025
Noun
The men stood frowning at each other and then back at Adi until the one without the gun broke into croaks of laughter. — Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 His gravelly croak sounds melodic but grave. — Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for croak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for croak
  1. complain
  2. die
  3. kill
  4. assassinate
  5. squawk
  6. scream
  7. perish
  8. destroy
Verb
  • Videos on social media published last week showed empty markets in Tehran and Karaj, with sellers complaining that their fresh produce is not being bought.
    — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Others complained about the traffic jams and parking restrictions in the runup to the event.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • The siblings inherited the Lakers through the Buss Family Trust after their father died in 2013, though their ties to the organization extended well beyond ownership.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Fedorov is right to say ideals should not die in warfare, or why else fight?
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of die
Verb
  • Video released by police after the shooting showed two officers charging into the school and killing the shooter, who’d just fatally shot three 9-year-olds and three adults and was firing from a window.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • The congregation was the organizing place for the sanitation workers’ strike that brought King to town in March 1968, weeks before he was assassinated there.
    — Jason Wollschleger, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kennedy, who was born after her father was assassinated, credits not only him but her whole family with inspiring her.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of assassinate
Noun
  • For aviation geeks or those who simply want to keep track of their plane’s unique flying data and route, squawk codes can be tracked on apps and websites like Flightradar24 and Flight Beacon.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026
  • Air traffic control at Heathrow cleared the flight for a priority return after the pilots issued a squawk 7700 — the code for a general emergency.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Definition of squawk
Verb
  • She was awakened in the middle of the night by her barking dog and the sound of a woman screaming in the street.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Audio from her cousin's phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service captured 15-year-old Layan describing the chaotic scene around her, amid the sound of gunfire and screaming, before the call dropped.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Officials did not immediately release the names of those who perished, but Lenore Bangura told ABC Toledo affiliate station WTVG that her mother, Mary Allen, was killed in the explosion.
    — Ahmad Hemingway, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Before the service began, a worshiper read aloud the names of some 200 parishioners who perished.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of perish
Verb
  • The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In Solomianskyi district, the top two floors of a 9-story residential building were destroyed and fires broke out on other floors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of destroy

Browse Nearby Words

critters
croak
croaked
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Cite this Entry

“Croak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/croak. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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