as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 screech
James Ross Gardner, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
Grohl screamed, screeched and ran all around the stage, the guitars filled the arena with feedback noises, and the band hosted a temple of rock worship.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
That frenetic screech of packing tape echoing in your emptying home may send your blood pressure soaring.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech
Verb
Nino-Moncada, the driver, sped for more than two miles and screeched into an apartment-complex lot, blaring the truck horn wildly, with a bullet wound on his arm.
—James Ross Gardner, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
Grohl screamed, screeched and ran all around the stage, the guitars filled the arena with feedback noises, and the band hosted a temple of rock worship.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
This not-quite-title song, which is nearly eight minutes long, is a sort of mini-suite, opening with a dog barking, giving way to an acoustic-guitar melody accompanying polyphonic vocals, then becoming electric and crashingly alive, until the relentless screech of a guitar drags you to the end.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
That frenetic screech of packing tape echoing in your emptying home may send your blood pressure soaring.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screech
Verb
-
McEntire shrieks between laughs, gesturing to the photographer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Near the launch site, members of the crowd shrieked or stared in disbelief.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
More squeals of support, and demands to see a picture.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
However, the ultrasound revealed a surprise that would make her squeal with happiness.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The work that doesn’t scream the loudest internally but decides who wins externally.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn was heard screaming in pain while lying in the snow before she was airlifted off the course.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
He was missed — especially vocally — since Gill’s angelic voice does not, in any way shape or form, resemble Walsh’s charmingly out-of-pitch squawk-talk style.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Toy keyboard plinks and saxophone squawks spiral over a booming racket of drums in the ether, slyly threatening to collapse, like an elaborate plate-spinning act.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Seattle’s home crowd let out a menacing roar.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The dunk led to the loudest roar by the crowd inside Allen Fieldhouse all game.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Materials quality is quite good, and there’s nary a squeak or rattle to be heard while out and about, rolling over everyday roads and highways.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Seeing the sky darken in the middle of the day and hearing the crickets start to chirp and feeling the temperature drop several degrees as the moon crosses in front of the sun is such a unique experience.—
Amy Nelson,
Twin Cities,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The buds actually use the welcome chirp from donning the earbuds to adjust the sound profile to the shape of your ears, which is truly advanced tech for the category.—
Brad Bourque,
Wired News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the time, the two girls were seen as rivals, with Debbie’s theatrical voice vs. Tiffany’s countrified yowl.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Squeeze the throttle pedal firmly to the carpet and the engine room answers with more forward thrust, the 9-speed kicking down several gears nearly instantly, and the car rushing onward with accompaniment of a classic but subtle straight six yowl.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screech. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
