squall

1 of 4

verb (1)

squalled; squalling; squalls
Synonyms of squallnext

intransitive verb

: to cry out raucously : scream
a squalling baby

transitive verb

: to utter in a strident voice
"… goodbye, goodbye!" squalled Polly …Louisa May Alcott
squaller noun

squall

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a raucous cry

squall

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a sudden violent wind often with rain or snow
2
: a short-lived commotion

squall

4 of 4

verb (2)

squalled; squalling; squalls

intransitive verb

: to blow a squall

Examples of squall in a Sentence

Verb (1) the baby squalled in pain Noun (2) a snow squall is expected tonight the annual squall created when the store holds its biggest sale of the year
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Snow squalls across the Northern High Plains could cause rapid visibility reductions Wednesday night. Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025 The surges of Arctic air will generate rounds of flurries and squalls in certain locations and may assist igniting storms with more widespread snow. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
Flurries, snow showers and squalls swept in with the first Arctic front across New York and New England, and more snow will extend from the Plains into the Midwest this weekend, AccuWeather said. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 Though the weather started pleasant, at around 9 p.m. on Aug. 30, 1892, the ship was caught in a powerful squall near Whitefish Point and began to split and sink. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for squall

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skval useless chatter

Noun (2)

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish skval rushing water

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1709, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squall was circa 1631

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squall. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

squall

1 of 4 verb
: to cry out with a harsh sound : scream
squaller noun

squall

2 of 4 noun
: a harsh cry or scream

squall

3 of 4 noun
1
: a sudden violent wind often with rain or snow
2
: a short-lived commotion

squall

4 of 4 verb
: to blow as a squall

More from Merriam-Webster on squall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!