shriek

1 of 2

verb

ˈshrēk 

 especially Southern  ˈsrēk

shrieked; shrieking; shrieks

intransitive verb

1

: to utter a sharp shrill sound

2

a

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screech

b

: to suggest such a cry (as by vividness of expression)

neon colors shrieked for attention

—Calvin Tomkins

transitive verb

1

: to utter with a shriek

shriek an alarm

2

: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek

shriek

2 of 2

noun

1

: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry

2

: a sound resembling a shriek

the shriek of chalk on the blackboard

Synonyms

Verb

• howl
• scream
• screech
• shrill
• squall
• squeal
• yell
• yelp

Examples of shriek in a Sentence

Verb

The birds were shrieking in the trees.

She shrieked when she saw a mouse.

Noun

the shriek of the train's brakes

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Inside a Mexico City shopping mall, fans began shrieking. —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 20 May 2025

Cate Blanchett is relatively subdued as Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, with her shrieking stepsisters picking up most of the slack. —Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025

Noun

Video shows her shriek in fear when an officer in a hooded sweatshirt and hat grabbed her by the wrists. —Hanna Park, CNN Money, 12 May 2025

The rag-doll physics of enemies coupled with their heinous death shrieks made battles more humorous than haunting. —Jamal Michel, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shriek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

shriek

1 of 2 verb

ˈshrēk 

1

: to utter a sharp shrill cry

2

: to cry out in a high-pitched voice

shriek

2 of 2 noun

: a sharp shrill cry