screeching 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskrē-chiŋ How to pronounce screeching (audio)
Definition of screechingnext
as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range the screeching blast of the factory whistle hurt my ears

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

screeching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of screech
as in shrieking
to cry out loudly and emotionally the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away

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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 screeching
Adjective
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s apparent attempt to get traded to the Washington Commanders in the offseason may have come to a screeching halt. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Clive Rose / Getty Images SPIELBERG, Austria — The hopes around Ferrari came to a screeching halt in the Styrian mountains. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Verb
The trees scold her, and birds follow her, screeching ominously. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 The lyrics take cues from electroclash’s nocturnal storytelling, while the production mixes screeching brostep, hyperpop, hard techno, and UKG. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for screeching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screeching
  1. shrill
  2. shrieking
  3. screaming
  4. squealing
  5. yelling
Adjective
  • The shrill call of the shofar ensures no one falls asleep during lengthy Jewish High Holy Day services each year.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Amid the rumblings of construction at nearby David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the sound of a shrill whistle and chopping feet at the nearby Murfin Family Practice Fields signaled one thing.
    — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrill
Verb
  • The addition of the electric guitar, drums and Jack White’s shrieking vocals transformed it into a rock song, while also keeping its signature folksiness.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of shrieking
Verb
  • By the time the rock legends arrived, the black carpet was empty, aside from the herd of photographers and screaming fans.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Within seconds, protesters swarmed among the agents, screaming and holding their cellphones aloft.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of screaming
Verb
  • Each of its elements began, long ago, in the loamy earth, hatching and creeping or slipping, slick and squealing, from the womb of the mind.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Video shot by OnScene TV on August 9 showed people rushing in and out of the store, some carrying merchandise, as roaring engines and squealing tires are heard in the background.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of squealing
Verb
  • Yet tackling noise issues is challenging in part because the sources vary — think traffic on a busy street in Manhattan versus yelling in a neighboring room.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The trapped man was discovered when the driver of the Recology commercial collection truck was emptying a dumpster at a hotel on the 100 block of Mason Street and heard yelling, according to Robert Reed, a spokesman for Recology.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of yelling

Browse Nearby Words

screeches
screeching
screen
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Cite this Entry

“Screeching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screeching. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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