as in shrill
having a high musical pitch or range
shrieking horns of impatient drivers stuck in a traffic jam
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
-
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
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Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 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
“Shrieking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrieking. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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