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

Related Words

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
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
Noun
Euphoric shrieks filled the Harbor of the East River as soon as the Knicks clinched. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 14 June 2026 Harris spares audiences the bloody image, but the sound of the boy’s imploring shrieks is nevertheless haunting. — Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 16 May 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
  • A little girl pounding her fists and screaming; none of the visitors nor the staff were allowed to hold her to provide comfort.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Rays third baseman Junior Caminero screamed in the dugout after Milwaukee had rallied to tie the game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • Farnsworth said the screech is typical of barn owls, who use it to communicate with one another.
    — Joseph B. Frederick, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Rihanna’s here, maniacal crowds are lining up outside shows to screech and wave at their favorite stars and days of runway events big and small lie ahead.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of screech
Verb
  • 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
  • Her patient, Maya, who is afraid of doctors and hospitals, squealed with excitement.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 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
  • Northwestern coach Chris Collins yells to his players during a Big Ten Tournament game March, 12, 2026, at the United Center.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The witness told police that Simpson struck Hampton several times while yelling at her to leave.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 27 Oct. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shriek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriek. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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