NYT Dictionary

CROAK

/kɹoʊk/
NounVerbKROHKGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A faint, harsh sound made in the throat.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English *croken, crouken, (also represented by craken > crake), back-formation from Old English crācettan (“to croak”) (also in derivative crǣcetung (“croaking”)), from Proto-Germanic *krēk-, from Proto-Indo-European *greh₂-g-, from *greh₂-k-, of onomatopoeic origin. See also Swedish kråka, German krächzen, Sanskrit गर्जति (garjati, “to growl”); also compare Latin grāculus (“jackdaw”), Serbo-Croatian grákati. More at crack, crake and craic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

ribbitcroakingdiedeceaseperishgoexitexpirepassconk

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 9 recorded puzzles:

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