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
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
With few exceptions, all the other students had shrieked in fear and had, from then on, called her gross-out or bug-girl.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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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One resident wakes up to a hooded stranger preparing to stab her and silently points them to her sleeping husband rather than scream.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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On the bright side for Smith, he's still getting paid millions to scream into a camera and show up courtside to stir drama.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 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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The adults settle into seats facing each other while children from different families run behind them, squealing, playing, crying.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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Visceral sounds of gyaaaaaaa (ギャアアアアア) convey squealing tires, while turbo blow-off valves let out a sweet doa (ドア).—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 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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Though the arrest took place over three years ago, the case faced new scrutiny in March when TMZ published a video of the altercation, showing Paul yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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McLaughlin could be heard yelling on his camera video.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The only sound coming from the Dodger Stadium visitors’ clubhouse Wednesday night was the squeak of a laundry cart.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Over time, pig squeak forms dense clumps without becoming invasive.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
13 Apr. 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 2 May. 2026.
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