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
New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
The social media content that comes out of the sprawling music festival screams spontaneity, but industrious planning is often buzzing behind the scenes weeks, or sometimes even months, in advance.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
That screams change of scenery, but DeGourville, like his childhood buddy Compton, likes Montezuma Mesa and may push to stay.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Playful, candy-colored, and instantly recognizable, the print screams Y2K princess energy, with endless variations to match.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
In the short term, this pairing screams patience.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Nothing screams buzzkill like 15 reviews.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
An explosion of green paint can be seen as Islas stumbles and screams in pain.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Those excited screams were caused by the astronauts' observations of micrometeor impacts on the moon, which NASA scientists weren't expecting.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The junior left-hander, who is committed to TCU, celebrated just about every out with exuberance Tuesday, letting out loud screams and breaking out fist pumps after each strikeout.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Much of Electrical Field of Love has a loose, improvisatory feel, with Gibbs and Lewis laying down thick, burrowing grooves, Ross adding textured flair, and Muldrow exhaling drawn-out, chantlike phrases or compact, laser-like screams on top of it all.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
Several husky owners echoed how quickly the screams can escalate.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
And live, that introspection, expressed through visceral screams, was even more powerful than on the exceptional albums.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Suddenly shots rang out in the night, followed by the screams and pandemonium.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Amid Swanson's screams, the deputy's Taser was knocked loose and came to a rest on the ground next to the two men, authorities said.
—Nicole Hensley, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
So while Geely’s breakthrough screams potential, the supporting cast – grid capacity, charger density, and standardization – is still catching up.
—New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
The social media content that comes out of the sprawling music festival screams spontaneity, but industrious planning is often buzzing behind the scenes weeks, or sometimes even months, in advance.
—ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
That screams change of scenery, but DeGourville, like his childhood buddy Compton, likes Montezuma Mesa and may push to stay.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Playful, candy-colored, and instantly recognizable, the print screams Y2K princess energy, with endless variations to match.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
In the short term, this pairing screams patience.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Nothing screams buzzkill like 15 reviews.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
An explosion of green paint can be seen as Islas stumbles and screams in pain.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
Another video, filmed inside the bus and shared on TikTok, captured the terrified screams of students who were riding the bus at the time.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Those excited screams were caused by the astronauts' observations of micrometeor impacts on the moon, which NASA scientists weren't expecting.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The junior left-hander, who is committed to TCU, celebrated just about every out with exuberance Tuesday, letting out loud screams and breaking out fist pumps after each strikeout.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Much of Electrical Field of Love has a loose, improvisatory feel, with Gibbs and Lewis laying down thick, burrowing grooves, Ross adding textured flair, and Muldrow exhaling drawn-out, chantlike phrases or compact, laser-like screams on top of it all.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
Several husky owners echoed how quickly the screams can escalate.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
And live, that introspection, expressed through visceral screams, was even more powerful than on the exceptional albums.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Suddenly shots rang out in the night, followed by the screams and pandemonium.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Amid Swanson's screams, the deputy's Taser was knocked loose and came to a rest on the ground next to the two men, authorities said.
—Nicole Hensley, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screams
Verb
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Henry takes in Link, who at this point is a teenager and laughs him off.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Out of innumerable likely topics, Maher complains about folks who defend cats.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
At one point in the documentary, Suga, one of the group’s rappers, complains that there is too much English on the album.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
-
The caterer’s dead daughter, Marketa, is sung by Vilma Jää, an ethno-pop performer whose forays into Finnish folk techniques have her slinging her voice up into thrillingly high engine-whines.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those riots kickstarted the LGBTQ+ rights movement in America, and beyond.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the Midway, the United Village campus around Allianz Field is in the process of adding its first commercial buildings, six years after riots and looting shuttered the last remaining stores in the former Midway Shopping Center and seven years after the soccer stadium held its first match.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screams. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
