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Croak vs Croaker - What's the difference?

croak | croaker |

In slang|lang=en terms the difference between croak and croaker

is that croak is (slang) to kill someone or something while croaker is (slang) a doctor.

As nouns the difference between croak and croaker

is that croak is a faint, harsh sound made in the throat while croaker is one who croaks.

As a verb croak

is to make a croak.

croak

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A faint, harsh sound made in the throat.
  • The cry of a frog or toad. (see also ribbit)

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a croak.
  • To utter in a low, hoarse voice.
  • * Shakespeare
    • The raven himself is hoarse, / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan.
  • (of a frog) To make its cry.
  • (of a raven) To make its cry.
  • (slang) To die.
  • (slang) To kill someone or something.
    • He'd seen my face, so I had to croak him.
  • To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil; to utter complaints or forebodings habitually.
  • * Carlyle
    • Marat croaks with reasonableness.

    croaker

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who croaks.
  • A vocal pessimist, grumbler, or doomsayer.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1771 , first=Benjamin , last=Franklin , editor= John Bigelow , title=Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , edition=1st complete English edition from Franklin's English Manuscript. , publisher = J.B. Loppincott & Co. , year_published=1868 , section=part one , page=167 , ol=23279690M citation , pageurl=https://archive.org/stream/autobiographyofb1868fran
  • page/167/mode/1up
    • , passage=There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin. }}
  • * 1915 , Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear
    • "It is my advice," the speaker continued, "that we go easier upon the small men. On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society will have been broken." Unwelcome truths are not popular. There were angry cries as the speaker resumed his seat. McGinty rose with gloom upon his brow. "Brother Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker ..."
  • A frog.
  • A fish in the family Sciaenidae, known for the throbbing sounds they make.
  • (slang) A doctor.
  • * Around 1900 , O. Henry,
    • "Lungs," said McGuire comprehensively. "I got it. The croaker says I'll come to time for six months longer—maybe a year if I hold my gait.

    Derived terms

    *spot croaker *spotfin croaker *white croaker *yellowfin croaker