1
: a high shrill piercing cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound resembling a screech
screeched; screeching; screeches
1
: to utter a high shrill piercing cry : make an outcry usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a shrill high-pitched sound resembling a screech
also
: to move with such a sound
the car screeched to a stop
: to utter with or as if with a screech
screecher
noun
Examples of screech in a Sentence
Noun
With a loud screech, she smashed the plate against the wall.
Verb
I screeched when I saw the mouse.
He kept screeching at the children to pay attention.
“You can't do this to me!” she screeched.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Ehrenreich, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt.
—Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
Aowen Cao, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
The network of services for mothers and children that Brown had spent more than a decade building was coming to a screeching halt.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech
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Noun
His grandson toddled over, climbed into his lap, accepted a kiss with a screech of delight, and scooted off again.
—Ben Ehrenreich, Harpers Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt.
—Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
Escalating tit-for-tat tariffs this month brought everything to a screeching halt.
—Aowen Cao, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
The network of services for mothers and children that Brown had spent more than a decade building was coming to a screeching halt.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech
Cite this Entry
“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screech. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screech
1 of 2 noun1
: a shrill harsh cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound like a screech
the screech of brakes
screech
2 of 2 verb1
: to cry out usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a sound like a screech
the car screeched to a halt
screecher
noun
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