squeal

Meaning

Noun

1. A high-pitched sound, such as the scream of a child or a female person, or noisy worn-down brake pads.
2. The cry of a pig.

Verb

1. To scream with a shrill, prolonged sound.
2. To make a squealing noise. (of an object)
3. (slang) To give sensitive information about someone to a third party; to rat on someone.

Synonyms

scream

😱

screech

yelp

squeak

shriek

cry out

squawk

cry

😢

yell

bellow

confess

creak

howl

fink

chirp

roar

neigh

bray

bawl

shout

growl

shrill

cheep

bleat

moo

oink

peep

whinny

yowl

give away

wheeze

wail

vociferate

call

sing

skirl

snitch

snort

squealing

talk

🗣️

tell

tell on

treachery

treason

twittering

vote

wheeziness

whimper

whistle

whoop

double cross

rat on

inform on someone

accord

smitch

acknowledge

admit

affirm

allot

attorn

avow

award

bespeak

bestow

betray

betrayal

birdie

call out

caw

confer

cry of pain

exclamation

❗

give

grant

grunt

hoot

inform

know

lese majesty

make a sound

own up

peach

🍑

pipe

rat

🐀

screak

sellout

sell out

shout out

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skwiːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: squelen

Cognate with Old Norse: skval

Cognate with Swedish: skvallra

In summary

Inherited from Middle English squelen, probably from Old Norse skvala (“to squeal, bawl”), from Proto-Germanic *skwel- (“to chatter, babble, scream”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *skel-, from *kelh₁- (“to ring, resound, cry”). Compare Old Norse skval (“a squeal”, noun), Swedish skvallra (“to babble, chatter, tell on”).