cackle

5 synonyms for cackle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A harsh, broken sound like a hen's cry, or a laugh that sounds similar.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

chatter

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

yak yack yakety-yak gaggle

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A harsh, broken sound like a hen's cry, or a laugh that sounds similar.

“Her cackle carried across the whole restaurant.”

chatter yak yack yakety-yak

2. verb

To laugh in a loud, harsh way, or to make the sharp cry of a hen or goose.

“The witches in the play cackled menacingly over their cauldron.”

gaggle

How to use cackle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

cackle with laughter a witch's cackle

Etymology

From Middle English caclen/cakelen, likely echoing the sound itself, related to Dutch kakelen and German Low German kakeln, all meaning "to cackle."

Full origin of cackle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cackle” mean?

The word “cackle” means a harsh, broken sound like a hen's cry, or a laugh that sounds similar. In plain terms, a harsh, cracked laugh or cry, like the noise a hen makes.

How do you pronounce “cackle”?

“Cackle” is pronounced KA-kuhl (/ˈkækəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “cackle” in a sentence?

Here is “cackle” used in a sentence: “Her cackle carried across the whole restaurant.”

What part of speech is “cackle”?

Depending on how it is used, “cackle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cackle” come from?

The word “cackle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English caclen/cakelen, likely echoing the sound itself, related to Dutch kakelen and German Low German kakeln, all meaning "to cackle.".

How many meanings does “cackle” have?

“Cackle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a harsh, broken sound like a hen's cry, or a laugh that sounds similar.

Related words

cluck

People also searched

chatter yak gaggle

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of cackle