shrieked; shrieking; shrieks
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
Calvin Tomkins1
: to utter with a shriek
shriek an alarm
2
: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek
1
: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry
2
: a sound resembling a shriek
the shriek of chalk on the blackboard
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
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Berger’s tiny stage bulges like a clown car, stuffed with superb comedians such as Russell Daniels, playing a prospective son-in-law (and Grade A idiot) who shrieks around sick people, and Sarah Stiles, as a pert soubrette.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
But deeper in, percussion livens up under orgiastic shrieks and a cameo on guitar from Adam Granduciel of the War on Drugs.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
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Verb
Speaking of which, the movie opens like a monster movie, Knightley shrieking with uncommon volatility as her hysterical character is carted up to the institute in a carriage.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Berger’s tiny stage bulges like a clown car, stuffed with superb comedians such as Russell Daniels, playing a prospective son-in-law (and Grade A idiot) who shrieks around sick people, and Sarah Stiles, as a pert soubrette.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Noun
Pretty soon, the whine of the gears, the shriek of the diff, and the sheer cacophony of combustion make conversation all but impossible.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
But deeper in, percussion livens up under orgiastic shrieks and a cameo on guitar from Adam Granduciel of the War on Drugs.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
Cite this Entry
“Shriek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shriek. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shriek
1 of 2 verb1
: to utter a sharp shrill cry
2
: to cry out in a high-pitched voice
shriek
2 of 2 noun
: a sharp shrill cry
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