What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
squawl
Example
The baby let out a loud squawl when he was hungry. [squawl: noun]
Example
The neighbors were having a squawling match over the fence. [squawling: gerund or present participle]
shriek
Example
She let out a shriek when she saw the spider crawling up her arm. [shriek: noun]
Example
The car's brakes screeched and shrieked as it came to a stop. [shrieked: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shriek is more commonly used than squawl in everyday language. Shriek is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while squawl is less common and often associated with negative emotions or unpleasant sounds.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between squawl and shriek?
Both squawl and shriek are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts. However, shriek may be more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels than squawl.
