as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screech
Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Wong earlier shared wild video of the car takeover on social media showing multiple cars doing tire-screeching donuts near a ring of fire on the street, with a passenger in one car holding a large Palestinian flag out the window.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for screech
Verb
Surveillance video from a nearby business captured drivers revving the engines and the sound of tires screeching, along with the ring of fire.
—Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Wong earlier shared wild video of the car takeover on social media showing multiple cars doing tire-screeching donuts near a ring of fire on the street, with a passenger in one car holding a large Palestinian flag out the window.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Plumes of tear gas, bursts of chemical irritants and the screech of protest whistles have become common on the streets of Minneapolis, especially since Good’s shooting.
—Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for screech
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screech
Verb
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Pulido told the crowd, before scratching his signature onto the brim and handing it to Jimena, who pumped it in the air and shrieked with joy.—
Jesús Rodríguez,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Bob Baker Marionettes knew their audience very well — the crowd shrieked along to the chorus.—
Rebecca Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Even in the midst of that sweltering Lagos day of thumping car music and raucous engines and the truck that honked at her for dancing too close, Miriam’s squeal stood out, a siren.—
‘Pemi Aguda,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
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Once inside, however, the miscreant sister communicates (via walkie-talkie) in a squeal of wordless agony.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the recording, which lasts over an hour, continues, Athena’s screams can be heard.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The audio recording captured the sounds of the ensuing attack, including banging, screaming, crying and choking.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, breaking a then 37-year-old hex that created a near cathartic roar at Belmont Park.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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Favorites by Diana Ross and Beyoncé are held up to the roar of the crowd before pixie dust is released from the musical’s original Broadway cast album.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The only sound coming from the Dodger Stadium visitors’ clubhouse Wednesday night was the squeak of a laundry cart.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Over time, pig squeak forms dense clumps without becoming invasive.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The pair began to exchange words early in the second half, cracking the type of crooked smiles that hardly concealed the competitiveness driving both players to chirp and ridicule and needle one another on both ends of the court.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
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Stephanie says, between a bark and a chirp.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On the floor, hundreds of people convulse to Blanco Teta’s ravenous yowls and monster-truck basslines off their July album La debacle de las divas.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
18 Feb. 2026
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Now fans can get a closer look at the man behind the pitch-perfect yowl, the pencil mustache and the flawless pompadour.—
Theater Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screech. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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