as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range
the screeching blast of the factory whistle hurt my ears
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shrieking
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screeching
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2026
All of this progress came to a screeching halt when white Americans, desperate to hang on to power, enacted Jim Crow laws throughout society.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Tribune News Service, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Somewhere along this conversation, Meredith says that Heather has been screeching at her for two months, which makes Heather completely blow up, telling her that their friendship is over.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screeching
Adjective
But while similar tones are audible far beyond NBA games, or on screeching tires, aging bike breaks, and windshield wipers, there is surprisingly little research into the detailed dynamics of squeaky surfaces.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2026
All of this progress came to a screeching halt when white Americans, desperate to hang on to power, enacted Jim Crow laws throughout society.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
By Jason Mackey Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PALM BEACH GARDENS — The pop of a catcher’s mitt mixed with saws screeching and hammers pounding provides an appropriate soundtrack inside Paul Skenes’ offseason workout facility, a baseball-lover’s paradise and an encapsulation of his unique personality.
—Tribune News Service, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Somewhere along this conversation, Meredith says that Heather has been screeching at her for two months, which makes Heather completely blow up, telling her that their friendship is over.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screeching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screeching
Adjective
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And each dares to honor the humanity in characters often reduced to predators and prey by one faction, shrill social justice warriors and brave free thinkers by another.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
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In turn, the tone has changed around Newcastle these past few days; less shrill, less edgy, less perilous.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
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When his kids melted down and started shrieking over the usual tantrum-inducing nonsense that sometimes sets off 4-year-olds, Buttigieg looked around nervously, gathered his family, and left the shop fast.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police were called to Access Self Storage at 7000 Southwest 22nd Court on March 1 after an employee reported hearing a man inside a unit screaming and asking for medical attention, according to the report.—
David Goodhue
March 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
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During cross-examination of Kaley in February, a Meta lawyer played footage of her mother screaming at her that the teen had posted to social media, and displayed Kaley’s lower-case Instagram story rants about her home life.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Someone must have been squealing.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
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The sheriff’s office Facebook post about Penelope’s arrest racked up hundreds of comments and reactions within an hour, including a lot of pig, hog, pork, ham, bacon and squealing puns.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Concertgoers would enthusiastically respond, yelling out each letter.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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In one call released by police, a woman can be heard amid a clamor of shouting repeatedly yelling for people to get down.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screeching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screeching. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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