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
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Snorkel in subterranean rivers, swim with dolphins (for an extra fee, with reservations), duck at the sound of macaws screeching overhead, wander through a Day of the Dead display, and swing in a hammock beside a turquoise cove.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 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
Some see the birds as beautiful new neighbors; others see screeching chaos with feathers.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Snorkel in subterranean rivers, swim with dolphins (for an extra fee, with reservations), duck at the sound of macaws screeching overhead, wander through a Day of the Dead display, and swing in a hammock beside a turquoise cove.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 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
-
Raph and Grant keep tasting wasabi Oreos, with Raph shrieking and Grant grimacing.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
The dark cellos of Guðnadóttir chop and grind, and Washington—shrieking, swiping, maddened at the air—flees into the forest, a disappearing uniform.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
In response, the paddlers near the front of the canoe momentarily pause their paddling and squeal as the sea lion splashes them.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
These threatened and endangered species are gentle, curious, and squeal-inducing levels of adorable, making a rare sighting all the more special and memorable.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The keeper could do nothing but flail and then turn and scream in frustration at his defense’s failings at the crucial moment.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
Elena called for Harold, who ran out in his boxers — both men screamed at each other and threatened to call the cops.—
Olivia Bensimon,
Curbed,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Air traffic control at Heathrow cleared the flight for a priority return after the pilots issued a squawk 7700 — the code for a general emergency.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Fellow attacker Akram Afif fell to his knees in both joy and disbelief after the final whistle blew, taking in the roars coming from his countrymen who had made the long trip to the United States.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
In the massive stadium in Inglewood, usually home to football games, the stands thundered with the roar of fans, with 70,492 in attendance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The vocal repertoire consisted of at least seven different squeak types.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Others reported a persistent squeak.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Stephanie says, between a bark and a chirp.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
