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
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The constant, incessant, droning sounds in between each pitch that blare from the sound system are manufactured slop, screeching ‘NEW YORKKKKKKKK!
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 22 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
One of the participants waved a Palestinian flag out the car window while screeching around the intersection.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The constant, incessant, droning sounds in between each pitch that blare from the sound system are manufactured slop, screeching ‘NEW YORKKKKKKKK!
—Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 22 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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Lyra spent hours running and spinning through the surf, shrieking with joy when the waves caught her.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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But in the early days of the Maniacs, everyone swears that Merchant was a shrieking dervish during shows, exorcising her teenage demons on the stage of every bar in the Rust Belt.—
Dan Kois,
Pitchfork,
17 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Jay practically embarrassed Mase, then a pop rapper at Bad Boy Records, not by screaming but by sounding amused.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 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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Fudd got a loud roar of applause upon being introduced and seemingly played with a spark, starting the game off aggressively in the first half.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
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As Tottenham’s Italian head coach turned towards the crowd and let out a roar of sheer jubilation, substitute goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario jumped on his back.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Others reported a persistent squeak.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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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
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 5 Jun. 2026.
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