screeching

1 of 2

adjective

screech·​ing ˈskrē-chiŋ 

: abrupt, sudden

her career came to a screeching halt

screeching

2 of 2

present participle of screech entry 2

Synonyms of screeching

Adjective

• shrill
• shrieking
• whistling

Examples of screeching in a Sentence

Adjective

the screeching blast of the factory whistle hurt my ears

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But on the opposite sideline on Saturday night, LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was left with more questions than answers as the honeymoon phase in Baton Rouge likely came to a screeching halt. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

The government that came soon after brought it all to a screeching, heavily consequential halt. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Cox’s film is biased in Bill’s favor, portraying him as a lapdog whose love for this screeching, spiteful, beady-eyed woman is his great tragic flaw. — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026

Ditch the pull-ups during the day There’s no disputing that pull-up diapers can be a great help with potty training, but when toddlers get too comfortable with what was intended to be a safety net, progress can grind to a screeching halt. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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