as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range
shrieking horns of impatient drivers stuck in a traffic jam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in screaming
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the children shrieked with excitement
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 shrieking
Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
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
His shrieking reactions to his wife’s savagery throw into relief his good nature and her perversity.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The shrieking young women are hilarious, as are their hairdos.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
This seems to me as offensive to rationality as a saint shrieking into the air.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile below, Frank chases Havlock through the dam’s tunnels on a snowmobile, the machine shrieking against concrete.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
His nine children sat at the foot of the stage shrieking their approval whenever his speech crescendoed.
—John Bartlett, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
When Carol directs her shrieking rage directly into Zosia’s face, all of We feels it, the entirety of the human race falling to the ground with seizures.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
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
His shrieking reactions to his wife’s savagery throw into relief his good nature and her perversity.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The shrieking young women are hilarious, as are their hairdos.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
This seems to me as offensive to rationality as a saint shrieking into the air.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile below, Frank chases Havlock through the dam’s tunnels on a snowmobile, the machine shrieking against concrete.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
His nine children sat at the foot of the stage shrieking their approval whenever his speech crescendoed.
—John Bartlett, NPR, 17 Nov. 2025
When Carol directs her shrieking rage directly into Zosia’s face, all of We feels it, the entirety of the human race falling to the ground with seizures.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrieking
Adjective
-
Some cymbal hits came across as slightly shrill thanks to the high-mid emphasis.—
Christian de Looper,
PC Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Nunez then began raping her while Jones stuffed rocks in her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, detectives said in the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every moment of euphoria is obfuscated by distortion, every pop impulse is undercut by squealing dissonance.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Something’s always smoking or squealing with these boys, huh?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even beyond the hurt in their voices, the biggest thing to come from the clip is a commentator yelling for a technical foul after the instantly iconic shot by Braylon Mullins to win the game.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After a few moments of yelling, Shelton was ejected from the game.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrieking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrieking. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
