1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the cranky patient was always croaking to the nurses about something
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of croak
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Frogs croaked from nearby waterholes, joining the chorus of spectators who hollered as the announcer introduced their favorite racers — along with their laundry lists of sponsors.
—William Liang, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Aratus, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
Rose does sing the song’s iconic chorus, but instrumentally, the song is nearly all Sly, with additional electric piano by star keyboardist Billy Preston and some guitar croaks from rising soul hitmaker Bobby Womack.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for croak
Verb
Their calls are more stork-like than hawk-like: deep, croaking barks that carry over the African grasslands.
—Noun
And crows will mimic the crystalline splashing of rain yet to come, or after two deep croaks
will set up a whir with furious wingbeats.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for croak
Verb
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Later, the state spent $6 million to seal the brick building, after state workers complained of respiratory ailments and asthma.—
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Although older drivers are certainly more sensitive to nocturnal blasts of light, drivers in their 20s and 30s also complained about the overall brightness of some vehicles.—
Verb
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By 1971, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones had all died at the age of twenty-seven from drugs and alcohol.—
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This year's awards season promises to deliver more inspiration, but in the meantime, do yourself a favor an invest in a quality round brush, some styling gel or pomade, and a ride-or-die can of hairspray.—
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
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Four people were killed over a four-day period in crashes on Arkansas highways, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police reports.—
Verb
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The protests are only the latest problem facing Khamenei’s regime, which had much of its leadership assassinated by Israel during a twelve-day war last June.—
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Venezuelan authorities accused both men of plotting to destabilize the government and assassinate Maduro, allegations denied by Spanish officials and civil organizations, which said the two were traveling for tourism.—
Noun
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However, after 40 minutes, the pilot turned back to Birmingham after issuing the 7700 squawk emergency code over the French coast, Daily Express reported.—
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There are times when squawk is not used to communicate aircraft information, like during military operations.—
Verb
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Hearing the Creature screaming his name, Victor turns back.—
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For all the talk about home-field advantage and the Bears needing their fans to scream 20 percent louder and be 30 percent drunker than usual, past precedent shows that won’t matter much.—
Verb
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They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell.—
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Harold Cunningham/Getty Outside Le Constellation, Federico Gelle, a 17-year-old from Italy's Tuscany region, lit a candle for so many teens his own age who had perished.—
Verb
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So, automation can be used to destroy labor or workers’ power, but it can also be used in the opposite direction.—
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Homes, businesses and synagogues were destroyed.—
Cite this Entry
“Croak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/croak. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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