1
as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally
we screamed when the roller coaster began its 30-foot plunge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
you'll scream when you see the outfit that she's wearing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
angry residents screamed that their neighborhood still hadn't been plowed a week after the snowstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scream
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead, staff mostly got screamed at by irate property owners.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Kennedy French, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Two of their younger brothers heard his screams from an adjacent room.
—Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scream
Verb
During cross-examination of Kaley in February, a Meta lawyer played footage of her mother screaming at her that the teen had posted to social media, and displayed Kaley’s lower-case Instagram story rants about her home life.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead, staff mostly got screamed at by irate property owners.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
The scream, the hiss, the explosion — not a monster’s rampage.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Two of their younger brothers heard his screams from an adjacent room.
—Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scream
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scream
Verb
-
The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The alternative would be to shriek at them for their hypocrisy.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The comedy horror sequel starring Samara Weaving as a bride trapped in a murderous game brought blood, blood and more blood to SXSW, where the crowd squealed and laughed at each grisly killing.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Some parents and children laughed, and a pair of parents even high-fived.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The large Sunbridge development is planned nearby, but there are no current residents anywhere near it to complain.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But Kesselman said his sister had unbelievable courage and never complained.—
Natalie McMillan,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Say those owls are like four, five hundred yards away, and your owl hoot makes those owls take off or start hooting.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Someone must have been squealing.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Some people were able to squeal and make u-turns and head away.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Little kids are especially talented at the sort of goofiness that gets everyone giggling with joy.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
-
As the title declares, there are traces of him everywhere, including Diem’s giggle.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Somewhere in the next hour after the field is announced, there will be contemplation and whining about the specter of the NCAA growing its postseason field, most likely to 76 teams.—
Mac Engel
March 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ellie stomps back to the crew mess to whine about it to Jenna and Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The film is an absolute riot, a no-bones-about-it horror flick heightened by powerful music, confident performances, and rich, resonant themes regarding cultural assimilation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
-
For a few weeks every March or April, thousands of trees erupt in a riot of billowy blooms, signaling the start of spring in our nation’s capital.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scream. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
