shrieking 1 of 2

adjective

as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range shrieking horns of impatient drivers stuck in a traffic jam

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shrieking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shriek
as in screaming
to cry out loudly and emotionally the children shrieked with excitement

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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 shrieking
Verb
When the humor shifted abruptly from shrieking and pratfalls to more subtle witticism, the audience was fine with that as long as things stayed light, funny and uncomplicated. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026 Children crowded the play areas, despite the damp, gray weather, shrieking with joy (and in one instance, crying). — Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026 This power plant is Mercedes-AMG’s new-generation M177 EVO, enhanced and enlivened by a flat-plane crankshaft, a feature normally associated with shrieking supercar engines. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 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 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 Kids are shrieking through their favorite splash pads, faces sticky with Bomb Pop juice and joy. — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026 Raph and Grant keep tasting wasabi Oreos, with Raph shrieking and Grant grimacing. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrieking
  1. shrill
  2. screaming
  3. squealing
  4. yelling
Adjective
  • That loon’s shrill call, this rock’s marbled face, and the walleye wriggling several feet below are what’s at home here; the paddler, just a visitor.
    — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
  • With a soprano voice that’s sharp but never shrill, O’Donovan can levitate a heartfelt melody over just about any kind of accompaniment.
    — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of shrill
Verb
  • Young and the Panthers couldn’t capitalize on the iconic opportunity, though, and ultimately fell to the screaming green-and-gold parishioners, 27-19.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the very idea of such a thing freezes my brain, locking it into a mental feedback loop that’s the equivalent of running around in a tight circle flapping my arms wildly and screaming.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of screaming
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
  • 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
Definition of squealing
Verb
  • In 2015, she was suspended for a week after a video surfaced of her yelling at and belittling a towing company employee.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Officers are then heard yelling again, but the car appears to move toward at least one of the officers before Foster shoots into the car, video shows.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of yelling

Browse Nearby Words

shrieked
shrieking
shrieks
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Cite this Entry

“Shrieking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrieking. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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