1
as in storms
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow)
a snow squall is expected tonight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in commotions
a state of noisy, confused activity
the annual squall created when the store holds its biggest sale of the year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shrieks
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the baby squalled in pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squalls
John Stepek, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
It’s kept me dry during surprise squalls, summer storms, and more.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Fog rolls in off the sea, rain clouds form against the steep volcanic slopes and squalls appear without warning.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Those songs both ended with squalls of noise, hinting at Bash’s interest in more uncouth arrangements.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
These squalls can lead to sudden spinouts and chain-reaction crashes because road conditions deteriorate rapidly.
—Joe Ruch, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Snow squalls are intense winter weather events often associated with strong cold fronts.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Winter weather is firmly in place across South Dakota, where heavy snow squalls can create sharp differences in accumulation.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 16 Jan. 2026
Snow squalls can develop rapidly and will be scattered across the state.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Mark Johanson, Outside, 14 Mar. 2026
The workweek is followed by an Arctic cold front with snow showers and squalls likely late Friday before the bottom falls out once again, which brings us to the weekend.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Unlike longer-lasting snowstorms, squalls move fast and can catch drivers off guard, especially when roads appear mostly clear just moments before conditions deteriorate.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Jan. 2026
Snow squalls in the Detroit area caused a number of car crashes on Interstate 75 on Monday, prompting the Michigan State Police to close the northbound highway and causing major backups for travelers.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 29 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
Political squalls are far easier to shrug off than Britain’s long-term economic problems.
—John Stepek, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
It’s kept me dry during surprise squalls, summer storms, and more.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Fog rolls in off the sea, rain clouds form against the steep volcanic slopes and squalls appear without warning.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Those songs both ended with squalls of noise, hinting at Bash’s interest in more uncouth arrangements.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
These squalls can lead to sudden spinouts and chain-reaction crashes because road conditions deteriorate rapidly.
—Joe Ruch, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Snow squalls are intense winter weather events often associated with strong cold fronts.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
Winter weather is firmly in place across South Dakota, where heavy snow squalls can create sharp differences in accumulation.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 16 Jan. 2026
Snow squalls can develop rapidly and will be scattered across the state.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
My body went numb forging frigid rivers while hurricane-level squalls wicked moisture out of my eyes.
—Mark Johanson, Outside, 14 Mar. 2026
The workweek is followed by an Arctic cold front with snow showers and squalls likely late Friday before the bottom falls out once again, which brings us to the weekend.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Unlike longer-lasting snowstorms, squalls move fast and can catch drivers off guard, especially when roads appear mostly clear just moments before conditions deteriorate.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Jan. 2026
Snow squalls in the Detroit area caused a number of car crashes on Interstate 75 on Monday, prompting the Michigan State Police to close the northbound highway and causing major backups for travelers.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 29 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squalls
Noun
-
Some storms could produce hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, especially with stronger rotating cells.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Hail damage contributed to $51 billion in insured losses last year from severe storms, according to the Insurance Information Institute.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
About 100,000 thunderstorms rumble across the United States each year, but just 10% intensify into a severe thunderstorm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meteorologists say a large-scale upper-level trough over the Plains is helping drive a series of disturbances that will move east through the day.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At bars across the United States, live watch parties were packed, squeals resounding.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Trains are drowning out the coach’s voice, the wind squeals in my hearing aids.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing screams influence quite like Victoria Beckham wearing her own designs to the Time100 Summit.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Officer Kyle McLaughlin, patrolling the Upper West Side on his steed Kelly, was alerted by a victim’s screams and immediately galloped into action.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squalls. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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