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

Shrieks of wintering birds assault the vessel’s five crew members, all clad in bright orange flotation suits.

From Science News

Particularly striking was a harsh sound that changed pitch quickly and unpredictably—qualities also heard in the alarm shrieks, fear screams, and panic calls of mammals and birds.

From Popular-Science

After a recent day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, I can assure them that a piece of fabric does not muffle shrieks.

From Washington Post

The night of the downpour we slept under a hardware-store tarp in a patch of skunkweed near the river, and I stayed awake listening to the wind in case it ramped up to that high shriek that means treetops are going to start snapping.

From Outside Online

Students moan and growl and shriek and yawp, as if exorcising demons in a ritualistic ceremony.

From The Daily Beast

A shriek of glee briefly broke out across the Web as inquiring minds tried to deduce who was the lucky lady.

From The Daily Beast

Even her brother, Sheriff, who tried to pick her up to cuddle her, was pushed away with a firm “no” and a shriek.

From The Daily Beast

For all its performance art and immersive theater foundation, the show also has its own shriek moments.

From The Daily Beast

One nurse pushed her hip alarm and the pulsing shriek rang out again.

From The Daily Beast

As she peered into the face of Dr. Ashton, her own was scarlet and yellow, and her voice rose to a shriek.

From Project Gutenberg

He was hurrying towards the corner of the palace grounds when a shriek from Winifred set his teeth on edge.

From Project Gutenberg

Now under the ivy-laden branches of a tall old tree an owl startles them with its shriek.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a moan, then a howl and a shriek arose which reached from group to group, from house to house, from square to forest.

From Project Gutenberg

Above the uproar of the reeling earth the shriek of the train sounded in his deafened ears.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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