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
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025
The screech of an infected is the first sign of trouble.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
But with President Trump’s July 4th signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill, starting next summer this parade of horribles will come to a screeching halt.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for screech
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Cicadas are back at it again in 2025, already emerging in droves to announce the approach of summer with their screeches.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025
The screech of an infected is the first sign of trouble.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
Matt Shaw's impact on the 2025 Chicago Cubs may have come to a screeching halt.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
But with President Trump’s July 4th signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill, starting next summer this parade of horribles will come to a screeching halt.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 9 July 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 19 Jul. 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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