1
as in shrieks
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 laughs
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 complains
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
as in hoots
someone or something that is very funny
that new comedy is a scream
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 screams
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The 360-degree design also allowed for the crowd’s screams to echo and fill the entirety of the Kia Forum.
—Kristine Kwak, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2026
This Harriet Bee pick screams classic Americana.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg was tasked with layering in claps, stomps and screams.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
An emergency immigration hotline took a call from Delaney Hall in which the operator heard screams in the background.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Nothing screams 2016 quite like the flower crown, and Eva Longoria served face in this flawless selfie.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Is there anything that screams Pitti Uomo more than a man in a suit and tie?
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
George Oliver Floating Fluted Nightstands There’s something about a pair of floating nightstands that just screams luxury, and this set is no exception.
—Brittney Morgan, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The car chase, the chokehold, his own screams at the officers to leave his dad alone.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
Sara can be heard asking over her daughter's screams.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
About his screams to the crowd.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
Normally, scent voices are mere whispers compared to the screams and angry shouts of humans, but in that section, certain sensitive plant species shrieked incessantly because of their proximity to plants that hindered their growth.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.
—Norma Torres, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Families physically pulled apart by uncaring hands over the outraged screams of the bereft?
—Leonard Pitts Jr, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
The looks are met with excited screams.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Verb
Bill Belichick’s resume screams one-way ticket to Canton, Ohio, but when he wasn’t voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many were left flabbergasted on Tuesday night.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The 360-degree design also allowed for the crowd’s screams to echo and fill the entirety of the Kia Forum.
—Kristine Kwak, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2026
This Harriet Bee pick screams classic Americana.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Oscar-winning composer Daniel Blumberg was tasked with layering in claps, stomps and screams.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
An emergency immigration hotline took a call from Delaney Hall in which the operator heard screams in the background.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Nothing screams 2016 quite like the flower crown, and Eva Longoria served face in this flawless selfie.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Is there anything that screams Pitti Uomo more than a man in a suit and tie?
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
George Oliver Floating Fluted Nightstands There’s something about a pair of floating nightstands that just screams luxury, and this set is no exception.
—Brittney Morgan, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Passengers aboard a taxiing aircraft were reportedly left horrified last month when chilling screams suddenly echoed from beneath the cabin just moments before takeoff.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
The car chase, the chokehold, his own screams at the officers to leave his dad alone.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
Sara can be heard asking over her daughter's screams.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
About his screams to the crowd.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
Normally, scent voices are mere whispers compared to the screams and angry shouts of humans, but in that section, certain sensitive plant species shrieked incessantly because of their proximity to plants that hindered their growth.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
The memories remained from crawling across the balcony, the pounding on the chamber doors, the screams echoing through the rotunda.
—Norma Torres, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Families physically pulled apart by uncaring hands over the outraged screams of the bereft?
—Leonard Pitts Jr, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
The looks are met with excited screams.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screams
Verb
-
Nahmias turned 33 on January 7; and while many other Millennials—the generation of the overwhelmed and overstimulated—would show frustration with the noise, Nahmias laughs it off.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
-
At 25 years old, Gerard laughs about becoming one of the veterans on Team USA and in the broader snowboarding community.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.—
Murugan Anandarajan,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.—
Willie Colon,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cowboy and cowgirl hoots and hollers complement the rumbling of the massive animals’ hooves as they’re rounded up into the corrals.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
-
There are hoots and hollers from raucous tourists on Bourbon Street, for example.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At bars across the United States, live watch parties were packed, squeals resounding.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Trains are drowning out the coach’s voice, the wind squeals in my hearing aids.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her daughter giggles as she's swung throughout the air, until Moore realizes that something isn't quite right.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The teaser video that followed showed a device straight out of a sci-fi film, something between Wall-E and BB-8, with a camera that giggles and swivels on command.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That was a remarkable thing to hear, because Rasmussen’s church was near the center of the riots that took place after the killing of George Floyd in 2020.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Bovino has long defended the tactics used by Border Patrol agents, calling them necessary to quell riots that threatened federal law enforcement personnel.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At 21 seconds, the person filming the video drives past the confrontation, and the camera swings to the other side of the street as someone in the car yells profanities.—
Kif Leswing,Terri Cullen,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Enten yells, slapping his hands together.—
Saahil Desai,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To all of this, Smith chuckles.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Survivalist Max Djenohan sees your ultralight backpacking rig and chuckles.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screams. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
