Quail

/kweɪl/

Synonyms for "quail" (125 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (25)

Strong matches (38)

Show 13 more words
grouseguinea henhang backhang offhave qualmshesitatehold offjiblasslassiemaidmaidenmake bones about
Noun(3 words)
Verb(2 words)

Related words (62)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: afeared, atlas, avoid, balk, blanch.
  • Sentence evidence is available for quail, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "quail".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "quail"

Keep "quail" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "quail" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "quail", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "quail" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

9 entries
behavioral actionbirdemotional responsegalliform birdmeatmovephasianidpoultrywildfowl

More specific

8 entries
California quailbobwhite quailcringeditherfalterquail breastquail thighshrink

Collocations

11 entries
California quailquail at the thoughtquail before dangerquail before the challengequail before the judgequail eggsquail farmquail huntingquail in fearquail meatwild quail

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

2 entries
qua ilquailing

Sample sentences

24 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

I prefer quail eggs.

Source: tatoeba (4010381)

Whereas some ascetics and Brahmins remain addicted to attending such shows as dancing, singing, music, displays, recitations, hand-music, cymbals and drums, fairy-shows, acrobatic and conjuring tricks, combats of elephants, buffaloes, bulls, goats, rams, cocks and quail, fighting with staves, boxing, wrestling, sham-fights, parades, manoeuvres and military reviews, the ascetic Gotama refrains from attending such displays.

Source: tatoeba (7008022)

The Lark sings as it flies in the air, the Quail sitting on the ground; others, on the boughs of trees, such as: the Canary, the Chaffinch, the Goldfinch, the Siskin, the Linner, the little Titmouse, the Woodwall, the Robin Redbreast, the Hedge Sparrow and so on.

Source: tatoeba (7315292)

Chicken eggs are richer in vitamin A than quail eggs.

Source: tatoeba (9241117)

Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "quail"?

Closest matches include afeared, atlas, avoid, balk, blanch.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "quail"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "quail"