screeching

adjective

screech·​ing ˈskrē-chiŋ 

: abrupt, sudden

her career came to a screeching halt

Synonyms of screeching

• shrill
• shrieking
• whistling

Examples of screeching in a Sentence

the screeching blast of the factory whistle hurt my ears

Recent Examples on the Web

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s apparent attempt to get traded to the Washington Commanders in the offseason may have come to a screeching halt. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Clive Rose / Getty Images SPIELBERG, Austria — The hopes around Ferrari came to a screeching halt in the Styrian mountains. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 1 July 2026

All that progress now comes to a screeching halt while Blue Origin investigates the cause of New Glenn's explosion and faces the task of rebuilding LC-36. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 1 June 2026

The party hadn’t really stopped since the club wrapped up its first Premier League title in 22 years last week, but those celebrations came to a screeching halt after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failed to convert from the penalty spot. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing screeching

• screeching/crashing halt

Rhymes for screeching

• bleaching
• breaching
• breeching
• leaching
• preaching
• reaching
• teaching
• beseeching
• impeaching
• overreaching

Kids Definition

screeching

adjective

screech·​ing ˈskrē-chiŋ 

: sudden sense 1a

her career came to a screeching halt