screeches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of screech
as in shrieks
to cry out loudly and emotionally the toddler screeched in anger when her stuffed rabbit was taken away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

screeches

2 of 2

noun

plural of screech
as in squeals

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of screeches
Verb
Carrey’s Povich jolts awake as Park’s Chung screeches his name and appears in their bedroom doorway in a dressing gown. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 The series’ opening scene plops audiences in the middle of the Dardanos’ dysfunction, as Linda, presiding over her own mother’s hospital room, screeches that her children should bear witness to their terminally ill nonna’s final days—even to her urinary incontinence. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026 Sometimes when a studio wants to remake an old movie or TV show and the business affairs team discovers his name attached to one of the parties, the train screeches to a halt. — Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screeches
  1. shrieks
  2. cackles
  3. screams
  4. roars
  5. squeals
  6. yowls
  7. yells
  8. barks
Verb
  • Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of shrieks
Noun
  • The doc is similarly unflinching in showing the horrific scene from 1900 in which Donald Sutherland’s sadistic fascist murders a young boy in a shockingly callous way, while Laura Betti as his equal in cruelty dissolves into blood-curdling cackles.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her performance presents as camp, but her dynamic range of loud cackles and quiet glances is fabulous.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of cackles
Verb
  • Set the scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The issue, of course, stems from the sound of rider screams from the coaster drifting into the residential area.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of screams
Noun
  • Maybe the Dodger fans, who showed striking apathy in the playoffs, will return to their post-dynasty roars because of this.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • As the roars grew louder and louder inside Valley Children’s Stadium, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen prepared to take the snap on a crucial fourth-and-2.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of roars
Verb
  • Soto’s Marie pouts and squeals with abandon.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • At bars across the United States, live watch parties were packed, squeals resounding.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of squeals
Noun
  • Their chorus of howls and yowls was all that kept them connected to the hunters who lagged far behind.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of yowls
Verb
  • As Gabe yells that Morgan cheated and broke up the family, a grin starts to spread across Nick’s and Serena’s faces.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Holmberg jumps in his vehicle and catches up to McConnell as Lafayette County deputy Kenneth Lewie holds McConnell at gunpoint and yells at him to get on the ground.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of yells
Noun
  • On his way out, Council obliged Stokes’ request and let out a few barks of his own.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In the other, barking fell from 317 barks per hour to 53, an 83% reduction.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of barks

Browse Nearby Words

screeched
screeches
screeching
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screeches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screeches. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All