Meanings
plural squeaky wheels
- A complainer; one who speaks out when there are problems (often pejorative).
When I went to those who we needed to get the resources from, I got the title of being the squeaky wheel. Everyone is not going to be a squeaky wheel, but I believe that if we want something and are persistent enough, we will get it...
1997, Lauch Faircloth, editor, Hud Rebuilding and Loan Guaranty ProgramSynonyms: spokesperson, troublemaker, whiner
- Of several problems, the most apparent or the most urgent.
And it is pretty hard to get government, as you know, ahead of the curve. We always respond to the squeaky wheel when things get bad, but you know, clearly there is food for thought in the observation of where we are in our commodity industries.
1999, State of the Petroleum Industry; Hearing the Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, U.S. Senate
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA complainer; one who speaks out when there are problems (often pejorative).
Origin
From the proverb "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"/oil.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish marisija, päällimmäinen ongelma
- marisijaone who complains
- päällimmäinen ongelmathe most urgent problem
Polish kwękacz, kwękaczka
- kwękaczone who complains
- kwękaczkaone who complains
- największy problemthe most urgent problem
Cite this entry
squeaky wheel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheel
“squeaky wheel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheel. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “squeaky wheel,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squeaky%20wheel.
Source: squeaky wheel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.