shriek

[ shreek ]

noun

1. a loud, sharp, shrill cry.

   Synonyms: screech, scream

2. a loud, high sound of laughter.
3. any loud, shrill sound, as of a whistle.

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud, sharp, shrill cry, as birds.
2. to cry out sharply in a high voice:

   to shriek with pain.

   Synonyms: screech, scream

3. to utter loud, high-pitched sounds in laughing.
4. (of a musical instrument, a whistle, the wind, etc.) to give forth a loud, shrill sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a shriek:

   to shriek defiance.

shriek

/ ʃriːk /

noun

1. a shrill and piercing cry

verb

1. to produce or utter (words, sounds, etc) in a shrill piercing tone

Derived Forms

• ˈshrieker, noun

Other Words From

• shrieker noun
• shrieking·ly adverb
• shrieky adjective
• outshriek verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shriek¹

First recorded in 1560–70; earlier shrick, northern variant of shritch (now dialect), Middle English schrichen, back formation from Old English scriccettan; akin to shrike

Word History and Origins

Origin of shriek¹

C16: probably from Old Norse skrækja to screech ¹

Synonym Study

See scream.

Example Sentences

In the middle of the work, Lemon recounts two dreams — calmly, except when he shrieks “Mommy!” over and over.

From New York Times

Perhaps you’re making the neighborhood kids work for their treats by having them run a gantlet of shrieks, fog and strobe lights to get to the bowl of candy.

From Los Angeles Times

Variety reported that Chalamet sneaked his way through the crowd hiding behind a mask and baseball hat, before creeping up to two lookalikes who had been posing for photos, sparking shrieks across the park.

From BBC

“I’m an anxious, asthmatic, ADHD, gay, diabetic Jew,” he shrieks, repeating the list so that the audience can register the gravity of the situation.

From Los Angeles Times

And there’s screaming and shrieking and people jumping up and down.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• howl
• screech
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whoop