Squealing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈskwēl/

Meaning & Definition of Squealing

Squealing (verb)

  1. to make a shrill cry or noise
  2. to tell someone in authority (as the police, a parent, or a teacher) about someone else's bad behavior or actions
  3. complain, protest
  4. to tell someone in authority about the bad behavior or actions of (someone else)

Squealing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in shrill, sharp

    similar: grating, harsh, overloud, sharp, shrill, strident, brazen, dinning, discordant, noisy, obstreperous, raucous, rip-roaring, vociferous, blaring, blasting, booming, clamorous, clangorous, deafening, earsplitting, loud, piercing, plangent, resounding, ringing, roaring, slam-bang, sonorous, stentorian, thundering, thunderous
    opposite: gentle, low, soft, dead, quiet, silent, still, stilly, ultraquiet, calm, dreamy, peaceful, restful, serene, soothing, tranquil, hushed, muffled, muted, softened, toned (down)

Squealing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: finking, grassing (on) (British slang), informing, ratting (on), singing, snitching, splitting (on) (British), squeaking, talking, telling (on), dropping a dime (on)
    related: betraying, giving away, turning in, backstabbing, crossing, double-crossing, selling (out), two-timing, blabbing, tattling, tipping (off)

  2. to cry out loudly and emotionally

    "the child squealed with frustration"

    similar: howling, screaming, screeching, shrieking, shrilling, squalling, yelling, yelping
    related: baying, caterwauling, keening, squawking, wailing, yawping, yowling, bawling, calling, crying, hollering, shouting, thundering, vociferating
    near: murmuring, muttering, whispering

  3. 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"

    similar: beefing, bellyaching, bitching, bleating, carping, caterwauling, complaining, crabbing, croaking, fussing, griping, grizzling, grouching, grousing, growling, grumbling, grumping, hollering, inveighing, keening, kicking, kvetching, maundering (chiefly British), moaning, murmuring, muttering, nagging, repining, screaming, squawking, wailing, whimpering, whinging (British), whining, yammering, yawping, yowling, kicking up a fuss
    related: objecting (to), protesting, quarreling (with), caviling, quibbling, fretting, stewing, worrying, blubbering, crying, sobbing, bemoaning, bewailing, deploring, lamenting
    opposite: crowing, delighting, rejoicing
    near: accepting, bearing, countenancing, enduring, taking, tolerating, applauding, cheering, commending

Related Entry: Squeal (verb)

Squeal is a different word from Squealing. The synonyms below are for squeal, not for squealing.

  1. 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"

    similar: fink, grass (on) (British slang), inform, rat (on), sing, snitch, split (on) (British), squeak, talk, tell (on), drop a dime (on)
    related: betray, give away, turn in, backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time, blab, tattle, tip (off)

  2. to cry out loudly and emotionally

    "the child squealed with frustration"

    similar: howl, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, yell, yelp
    related: bay, caterwaul, keen, squawk, wail, yawp, yowl, bawl, call, cry, holler, shout, thunder, vociferate
    near: murmur, mutter, whisper

  3. 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"

    similar: beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder (chiefly British), moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer, yawp, yowl, kick up a fuss
    related: object (to), protest, quarrel (with), cavil, quibble, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament
    opposite: crow, delight, rejoice
    near: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Squealing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Squealing:

British: splitting (on), whinging
British slang: grassing (on)
Chiefly British: maundering
grating, harsh, overloud, sharp, shrill, strident, brazen, dinning, discordant, noisy, obstreperous, raucous, rip-roaring, vociferous, blaring, blasting, booming, clamorous, clangorous, deafening, earsplitting, loud, piercing, plangent, resounding, ringing, roaring, slam-bang, sonorous, stentorian, thundering, thunderous, finking, informing, ratting (on), singing, snitching, squeaking, talking, telling (on)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Squealing

Words with the opposite meaning of Squealing:

gentle, low, soft, dead, quiet, silent, still, stilly, ultraquiet, calm, dreamy, peaceful, restful, serene, soothing, tranquil, hushed, muffled, muted, softened, toned (down), crowing, delighting, rejoicing

Related Words for Squealing

betraying, giving away, turning in, backstabbing, crossing, double-crossing, selling (out), two-timing, blabbing, tattling, tipping (off), baying, bawling, calling, crying, shouting, vociferating, objecting (to), protesting, quarreling (with), caviling, quibbling, fretting, stewing, worrying, blubbering, sobbing, bemoaning, bewailing, deploring

Near Antonyms of Squealing

murmuring, muttering, whispering, accepting, bearing, countenancing, enduring, taking, tolerating, applauding, cheering, commending

Word Forms of Squealing

Inflections: squealed, squeals, squealed on, squealing on, squeals on

Derived words: squealer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Squealing

Middle English squelen, of imitative origin

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Squealing

What does "Squealing" mean?

"Squealing" means to make a shrill cry or noise. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make a shrill cry or noise. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Squealing"?

Other words for "Squealing" include grating, harsh, overloud, sharp, shrill, strident, brazen and dinning. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Squealing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Squealing"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Squealing". Common alternatives include grating, harsh, overloud, sharp, shrill, strident, brazen, dinning, discordant and noisy.

What is the opposite of "Squealing"?

Antonyms of "Squealing" include gentle, low, soft, dead, quiet, silent, still and stilly. Near antonyms include murmuring, muttering, whispering and accepting.

How do you use "Squealing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Squealing" in a sentence: "that stool pigeon squealed to the police about the whole smuggling operation"; "the child squealed with frustration"; "hoped that a DVD player in the backseat would keep the kids from squealing about long car rides".

Is "Squealing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Squealing" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Squealing"?

"Squealing" is pronounced /ˈskwēl/.

What is the origin of the word "Squealing"?

"Squealing" comes from Middle English squelen, of imitative origin. First known use: 14th centuryi.