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Definition of shriek
intransitive verb
1 : to utter a sharp shrill sound
2a : to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screechb : 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
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Examples of shriek in a Sentence
The birds were shrieking in the trees.
She shrieked when she saw a mouse.
Recent Examples of shriek from the Web
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More perturbing than the children who shriek at the bombardment around them are those who barely flinch.
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On a steamy late afternoon this week, dozens of campers splashed and shrieked in a swimming pool.
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Both resigned themselves to waiting for the day’s end while shrieking uuuaaakk uuuaaakk.
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His 6-month-old boy is shrieking in the room next door, contributing to the whistling din.
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A gaunt woman had arrived, weeping and shrieking in protest.
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On Friday night in Portland, Oregon, two men were murdered while defending two young women on a train against an armed, raving white supremacist who was shrieking anti-Muslim invective at them.
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Migrants shriek and scatter as vehicles with blinding headlights close in on them.
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Pepper’s has topped its fair share of Greatest Albums of All Time lists from music magazines and websites, on both sides of the Atlantic, pleasing all the stripes of listeners, from old curmudgeon critics to shrieking teenagers.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shriek'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of shriek
Middle English shreken, probably irregular from shriken to shriek; akin to Old Norse skrækja to shriek
shriek
Definition of 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
the shriek of the train's brakes
Recent Examples of shriek from the Web
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My husband stood stoically a few feet away, hunched over the exam table, gently nuzzling our tiny two-week-old son as, to his piercing shrieks, the technician drew vial after vial of blood.
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But the shrieks are probably louder at some of Six Flags' more modern behemoths.
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The Weeknd and hear every detail without having to escape the painful shrieks of the crowd around you.
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The shriek of low-flying UN World Food Programme planes raining sacks of sorghum and bottles of gasoline is a welcome noise in Nyal.
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The playful shrieks of children on their lunch break filter through from a nearby school.
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Davis has watched video of his HR many times The Indians honored Davis with a video montage prior on Monday, with Tom Hamilton's Game 7 shriek serving as the crescendo of the footage.
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U.S. officials, for their part, feared Noriega was coming unhinged, going on TV to smash furniture with a machete and shriek threats against Washington.
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Then, Pretty plunged to a knee to ask for Bradley's hand and produced a diamond ring to her shrieks of delight and a long embrace.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shriek'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of shriek
1567
SHRIEK Defined for English Language Learners
shriek
playDefinition of shriek for English Language Learners
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: to make a loud, high-pitched cry
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: to say (something) in a loud, high-pitched voice
shriek
Definition of shriek for English Language Learners
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: a loud, high-pitched cry or sound
SHRIEK Defined for Kids
Definition of shriek for Students
shrieked
;shrieking
1 : to make a loud high-pitched cry We shrieked with delight.
2 : to say in a loud high-pitched voice She shrieked my name.
Learn More about shriek
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See words that rhyme with shriek Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shriek Spanish Central: Translation of shriek Nglish: Translation of shriek for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shriek for Arabic speakers
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