as in to scream
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the children shrieked with excitement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shriek
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
Verb
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
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
Certain big tackles, hopeful shots and fouls draw the odd reactive shriek, but this is a group that has come to sing for 90 minutes off the same hymn sheet.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Led by blaring ‘80s synthesizers and a pounding beat, the song features a distorted lead vocal from D’Angelo, who accompanies himself on multitracked backing vocals with the occasional soul shriek thrown in for good measure.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriek
Verb
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For families This hotel doesn’t scream family-friendly and there’s no kids’ menu in the restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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Martens plans to scream, if not louder, than with more originality.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Native to North America, eastern screech-owls are mostly gray, reddish-brown or brown with yellow eyes, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every moment of euphoria is obfuscated by distortion, every pop impulse is undercut by squealing dissonance.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
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Something’s always smoking or squealing with these boys, huh?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The book is closely argued but at times shrill and inconsistent.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Ochi speak, not with words, but sounds—melodic shrills that reverberate in the air and can be interpreted on an emotional level.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Staley yelled back at him as assistants from both teams separated the two.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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On the day of the shooting, Owens knocked on Lorincz's door to confront her after Owens' son said Lorincz yelled and threw roller skates at him, according to the sheriff's office, but Lorincz would not open the door.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Contributor DaVonne Onassis Bacchus tested it for us and had only positives to share, from the delivery and setup to the sturdy, squeak-free silhouette.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
13 Mar. 2026
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On his proper introduction, Nett seems keen to fashion himself in the mold of new-wave rage stars like Che and Osamason, burning his low-end to a crisp and putting on his best Keef squeak.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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My next yelp was greeted with dead silence.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
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The yelps and chatter of a nursery school recess clattered down from a small hill overlooking the scene.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shriek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriek. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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