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
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Authorities say Valdez had multiple untreated mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, and that he had been seen in Concord earlier in the day screaming at cars.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Tyriq Withers may be emerging as a modern-day scream king onscreen, but his latest role in the romantic drama Reminders of Him was actually the scariest for him.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scream
Verb
Nothing screams buzzkill like 15 reviews.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Authorities say Valdez had multiple untreated mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, and that he had been seen in Concord earlier in the day screaming at cars.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
But now that jet stream is going on near-vertical, scream-inducing drops following by straight-up ascents.
—Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Tyriq Withers may be emerging as a modern-day scream king onscreen, but his latest role in the romantic drama Reminders of Him was actually the scariest for him.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scream
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scream
Verb
-
With few exceptions, all the other students had shrieked in fear and had, from then on, called her gross-out or bug-girl.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Some celebrities have gotten mad at him about the interactions, and some of them laugh about it with him.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Jamaica born About a hundred people gathered to lay Wilson to rest, singing, crying and laughing while remembering his kind heart, his hard work and his famous barbecue ribs and chicken wings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The driver and passenger in the BMW complained of pain.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Theroux is a hoot as the cult fixer with a past, thoroughly having a blast as this mysterious guy whose shaky history is about to catch up with him.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Every moment of euphoria is obfuscated by distortion, every pop impulse is undercut by squealing dissonance.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Something’s always smoking or squealing with these boys, huh?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Around them, a dozen children sunk into their parents’ laps — giggling, wriggling and delighted by the story.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But not one single titter, giggle or full blown gale of laughter erupted from my mouth tonight.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Or get ready for a lot of groaning and whining.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Mar. 2026
-
With LeBron James buying into a supporting actor role, the Lakers are a legitimate threat because Doncic is more focused on scoring buckets than whining to officials.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the baby room, antique quilts, geometric wallpaper, and upholstered bed make for a quiet riot.—
Laura Regensdorf,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scream.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scream. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
