as in to scream
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the children shrieked with excitement
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Recent Examples of shriek
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
Democrats will shriek about draconian spending cuts, but the instructions the House has given are modest — really, too modest, if the goal is to change the long-run trajectory of the federal debt.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Feb. 2025
Holly Yan, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
Suddenly, a woman is yanked through a mirror — a moment punctuated by the funniest shriek this side of the Wilhem scream — and the plot is pulled into the ’80s: a critical framing shift that’s never once made explicit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
Verb
Naturally, the family shrieked in excitement and quickly descended into a fit of giggles and tears.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
Democrats will shriek about draconian spending cuts, but the instructions the House has given are modest — really, too modest, if the goal is to change the long-run trajectory of the federal debt.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
Armed with metal detectors, a shovel, sifting screens and a 60-pound magnet, Levy has helped recover belongings for wildfire victims for more than 30 years – bringing tears of joy and shrieks of elation to despondent victims who have lost most everything else.
—Holly Yan, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
Suddenly, a woman is yanked through a mirror — a moment punctuated by the funniest shriek this side of the Wilhem scream — and the plot is pulled into the ’80s: a critical framing shift that’s never once made explicit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shriek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shriek
Verb
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Every frequent flier has been there: the seat that doesn’t tilt back, the screaming kids, the sprint between terminals for the connecting flight, and relief at baggage claim that your luggage actually made it.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2025
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And of course, 102 acres on the Pacific Ocean just screams location, location, ad infinitum.—
David Weiss,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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While not functional, the shiny cars served as props for young kids to vape, scroll on their phones, and screech on top of.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Yet kids seem pretty delighted overall in their hybrid squealing/giggling way.—
Dewayne Bevil,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2025
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Pip squealed and clapped her hands, and Flora squeezed Pip’s arm, laughing with relief.—
Sheila Heti,
The New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud shrill that will instantly scare an intruder away.—
Stephanie Gray,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2025
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The cheering was so loud that even ear plugs wouldn’t have masked the shrill.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN,
11 Aug. 2023
Verb
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Characters yell confessions and spew insults from across rooms and tables.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 2025
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Outside the Latvian Cultural Center, Fisk yells at Sheila - who hasn't revealed Daniel's part in the leak - about the news, demanding an all-hands meeting to find out who leaked the story.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And if that’s not strange enough, this tiny creature barks, squeaks and even screams when threatened.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Mice typically produce pulses of ultrasonic squeaks that resemble syllables in human language.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The yelps and shrieks of Drive seemed smothered as though his mouth was full of fur.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
13 Feb. 2025
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Most people know what a yelp sounds like, but probably not all the subtlety within a series of yelps.—
Scott Einsmann,
Outdoor Life,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shriek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shriek. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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