shriek
verb
\ ˈshrēk
, especially Southern ˈsrēk\
, especially Southern ˈsrēk\
shrieked;
shrieking;
shrieks
Definition of shriek
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to utter a sharp shrill sound
2a
: to cry out in a high-pitched voice : screech
b
: to suggest such a cry (as by vividness of expression)
neon colors shrieked for attention— Calvin Tomkins
1
: to utter with a shriek
shriek an alarm
2
: to express in a manner suggestive of a shriek
shriek
nounDefinition of shriek (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a shrill usually wild or involuntary cry
2
: a sound resembling a shriek
the shriek of chalk on the blackboard
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Synonyms for shriek
Synonyms: Verb
howl, scream, screech, shrill, squall, squeal, yell, yelp
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Examples of shriek in a Sentence
Verb
The birds were shrieking in the trees. She shrieked when she saw a mouse.Noun
the shriek of the train's brakes
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The exhibition includes a late 15th-century engraving by Martin Schongauer of Germany depicting St. Anthony tormented by shrieking demons that pelt him with clubs and pull at his clothing and hair. — Steven Litt, cleveland.com, "‘Medieval Monsters’ exhibit at Cleveland Museum of Art surveys images used to inspire fear, hatred and wonder," 1 Sep. 2019 For two years, the left and media have shrieked unproven allegations about Trump and collusion with Russia. — John Kass, Twin Cities, "John Kass: Weaponizing the dead of El Paso and Dayton," 9 Aug. 2019 As the bats emerged, hawks shrieked and dove into the swarm to catch dinner. — Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, "The Changing Climate Inside the World’s Largest Bat Colony," 6 Aug. 2019 Chavez was completely floored upon meeting the rapper, and shrieked in excitement before the two shared a hug. — Rania Aniftos, Billboard, "Chance the Rapper Surprises March For Our Lives Speaker at WE Day: Exclusive Clip," 1 Aug. 2019 The player can then guide that light toward the shadowy monster in the distance while Kay shrieks in agony. — Washington Post, "‘Sea of Solitude’ is a well-meaning misfire," 11 July 2019 Tires don’t shriek when somebody brakes to avoid an opossum transfixed by headlights in the middle of the road. — Gena Steffens, Smithsonian, "The Snakes That Ate Florida," 11 July 2019 The windowless restaurant was filled with Nigerian customers shrieking with joy at the sight of familiar dishes, and other couples and families who were here to try something new. — Flora Tsapovsky, Bon Appétit, "Meet the 24-Year-Old Owner of Eko Kitchen, San Francisco's First Nigerian Restaurant," 31 July 2019 But the most memorable instrument heard Thursday night was Dickinson’s astonishing vocal, its yearning, ceiling-scraping shrieks nearly indistinguishable from the singer who performed these songs 30 years ago. — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, "Review / Photos: Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden captivate BB&T Center to open Legacy of the Beast Tour," 19 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Few match the bombast of Arnab Goswami, whose brand of shriek show has launched a new network, Republic TV. — The Economist, "When India’s government abuses power, the media cheer," 22 Aug. 2019 China's move earlier this month to allow its currency to depreciate—bringing shrieks of currency manipulation from President Donald Trump—has opened a new front. — Alain Sherter, CBS News, "3 reasons the U.S. economy isn't set to fall off a cliff," 20 Aug. 2019 Disappointment from Dettori fans and excited shrieks from Deirdre backers bubble around the grandstands, but soon the genteel air settles and conversations resume. — Rob Hodgetts, CNN, "Goodwood brings glorious end to English social season," 8 Aug. 2019 Then suddenly there was like a shriek from one of the rooms, and someone had discovered a crib, like a child's crib, filled with clowns. — Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Plan a Trip Around Someone Else's Wedding: Women Who Travel Podcast," 6 Aug. 2019 Schaup, who has been fine until that point, starts to get up from a chair and shrieks, calling out for her husband, who is in another part of the room. — Elizabeth Llorente, Fox News, "Dominican Republic resort deaths mystery: timeline," 25 May 2019 As Randy pantomimed a whipping, Darryl gave a shriek that must have startled all of Stamford. — Tom Verducci, SI.com, "The Hard, Historic Roads That Lead to Baseball's Magic Number: .400," 8 Aug. 2019 Crunk Witch makes campy, day-glo, video-game, club music with animal prints, falsetto shrieks, work-out grooves and percolating synth lines. — courant.com, "Strike a pose of neon defiance: See Crunk Witch at Cafe Nine," 5 Aug. 2019 Not infrequently, his revels ended with him missing the last train home and retreating to the office to sleep under a desk, where a staffer might discover him with a shriek the next day. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 11 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shriek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for shriek
shriek
verb
English Language Learners Definition of shriek
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to make a loud, high-pitched cry
: to say (something) in a loud, high-pitched voice
shriek
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of shriek (Entry 2 of 2)
: a loud, high-pitched cry or sound
See the full definition for shriek in the English Language Learners Dictionary
shriek
verb
\ ˈshrēk
\
\
shrieked;
shrieking
Kids Definition of shriek
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to make a loud high-pitched cry
We shrieked with delight.
2
: to say in a loud high-pitched voice
She shrieked my name.
shriek
nounKids Definition of shriek (Entry 2 of 2)
: a loud high-pitched cry or sound