What is a better word for creaking?

A better word for creaking depends on context and desired tone, as creaking means making long low-pitched groaning sound from friction. Synonyms and more precise alternatives include squeaking for higher pitch, groaning for deeper sound, grating, grinding, rasping, squawking, screeching, and moaning. For example, creaking door could be better described as squeaking door if high-pitched, groaning door if low and heavy, or screeching door if loud and shrill. Creaking floorboards could be groaning floorboards or moaning floorboards for literary effect. Creaking joints could be popping or cracking. If you want more vivid writing, instead of creaking you could use groaning, complaining, protesting, as in the old stairs groaned under weight. For mechanical, you could say grinding or grating. For scary atmosphere, you could say moaning or wailing. So better word depends on sound quality, high and short is squeaking, low and long is groaning, harsh is grating or screeching. If you want formal synonym, groaning and grinding are closest. For a door, squeaking is often better than creaking if you want high pitch. For old house, groaning feels more atmospheric.