screeching

[ skree-ching ]

adjective

1. causing or uttering screeches:

   screeching bats.

2. characteristic of screeches; harshly shrill:

   a screeching tone.

noun

1. the act or sound of a person or thing that screeches.

Other Words From

• screeching·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of screeching¹

First recorded in 1610–20; screech + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

I don't know about y'all, but after the majority of men voted to put a screeching sexual predator back into office, I'm feeling like it's time to wind down this era of hand-holding and hair-stroking.

From Salon

When a farm, an orchard, a ranch, or any other agricultural operation is damaged in a disaster, it often leads to a drop in production, or even brings it to a screeching halt.

From Salon

But it treated transition as a screeching horror, not for the faint of heart.

From Los Angeles Times

Both of our marriages had come to screeching halts very unexpectedly.

From Los Angeles Times

Her assessment: Armstrong was “screeching her way through a very high note.”

From Los Angeles Times