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View synonyms for quack

quack

1

[kwak]

noun

  1. the harsh, throaty cry of a duck or any similar sound.



verb (used without object)

  1. to utter the cry of a duck or a sound resembling it.

quack

2

[kwak]

noun

  1. a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.

    Desperation for a cure led her to a quack who took her money.

  2. a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or qualifications they do not possess; a charlatan.

    Synonyms: phony, mountebank

adjective

  1. being a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to skills, especially medical skills.

    He's just a quack psychologist who complicates everyone's problems.

  2. presented falsely as having curative powers.

    quack medicine.

  3. of, relating to, or befitting a quack or quackery.

    Her quack methods have helped no one.

verb (used with object)

  1. to treat in the manner of a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.

  2. to advertise or sell with fraudulent claims.

quack

1

/ kwæk /

noun

    1. an unqualified person who claims medical knowledge or other skills

    2. ( as modifier )

      a quack doctor

  1. informal,  a doctor; physician or surgeon

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to act in the manner of a quack

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

quack

2

/ kwæk /

verb

  1. (of a duck) to utter a harsh guttural sound

  2. to make a noise like a duck

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the harsh guttural sound made by a duck

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • quackish adjective
  • quackishly adverb
  • quackishness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of quack1

First recorded in 1570–80; imitative; compare Dutch kwakken, German quacken

Origin of quack2

First recorded in 1630–40; short for quacksalver
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Word History and Origins

Origin of quack1

C17: short for quacksalver

Origin of quack2

C17: of imitative origin; related to Dutch kwakken, German quacken
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fischer elaborated, “Whatever reaction shot you’re seeing, he’s just reacting to us saying funny words like ‘neon sign’ or ‘chicken’ or something like ‘quack a duck.’

From Salon

It’s in service of crank conspiracy theories, quack wellness influencers and weird dystopian visions of supermen doing pull-ups to demonstrate their patriotism.

From Salon

And that is how a quack who treats the tender corns on pedicured toes suddenly becomes a world-renowned corn doctor in a show that seemingly never met a pun it didn’t like.

“The secretary of defense, in charge of defending the American people, was accidentally texting military strike information to journalists. The secretary of public health…is a quack.”

From Salon

The individual histories of these men as a dangerous conspiracy theorist, a quack cure TV huckster, an eccentric contrarian and an ethically-challenged partisan have sent shockwaves through the scientific community.

From Salon

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