shriek 1 of 2

verb

ˈshrēk How to pronounce shriek (audio)
Definition of shrieknext
as in to scream
to cry out loudly and emotionally the children shrieked with excitement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shriek

2 of 2

noun

as in scream

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Dissimilar Words

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 shriek
Verb
On the lawn, a mechanical bull bounced shrieking children into the air. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026 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
Noun
Dawkins, an automobile aficionado himself, loved every second of the obstacle course, and even let out a shriek when the driver floored it over a hill at the end. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 Smiley slashes Mari across the belly and Fatima lets out a monstrous shriek. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shriek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriek
  1. scream
  2. screech
  3. squeal
  4. shrill
  5. yell
  6. squeak
  7. yelp
Verb
  • Upon arriving at Bottiglierivega's door, a police sergeant heard screaming and spotted blood nearby.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrived at the scene and found people screaming as a man was lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • Subject county officials to the horrible, 24/7 screech that large data centers emit.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The screech of electric saws and pounding of nails into plywood are now background noise in the French capital.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of screech
Verb
  • This time of year, the ranch’s Duroc, Hampshire and Berkshire cross hogs are paddocked along a slough, grunting and squealing under the canopy of oak and walnut trees.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Try not to squeal like a 5-year-old when the foot-tall sparkler speared into the sundae is lit.
    — Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeal
Noun
  • No stomping rhythms here, no shrill blasts in unison, no sweaty masculinity souring the air, no red faces.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Conversely, the drum tones fluctuate between sloshy and shrill, either contributing to the chaos or cutting through like a fire alarm.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Definition of shrill
Verb
  • After repeatedly yelling out during the meeting, one man was escorted to the exit by police.
    — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Demonstrators banging on drums, yelling, and making siren sounds with an electronic bullhorn could be heard within the boardroom.
    — Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of yell
Noun
  • Every wiggle and wobble, every snuffle and squeak of six newborn puppies snuggling together in Finland is captured by cameras monitoring their development in the first weeks of their lives.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Nestled deep among the wads of shredded paper and other bric-a-brac, the occupants made not a squeak, concealed to anyone who looked through the carrier’s door.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeak
Noun
  • Then the day came, two weeks before a drop-dead deadline on a final draft of a novel, when the pain was yelp-out-loud excruciating in any position other than lying flat on the floor, or standing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The second slide was a video (without sound) of the couple’s first kiss, which King prefaced with what looked like a howl of joy, followed by a series of passionate kisses and an arms-in-the-air yelp from the groom.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of yelp

Browse Nearby Words

shrews
shriek
shrieked
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Cite this Entry

“Shriek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriek. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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