View synonyms for shriek

shriek

[ shreek ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a loud, sharp, shrill cry.
Synonyms: screech, scream
a loud, high sound of laughter.
any loud, shrill sound, as of a whistle.

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud, sharp, shrill cry, as birds.
to cry out sharply in a high voice:
to shriek with pain.
Synonyms: screech, scream
to utter loud, high-pitched sounds in laughing.
(of a musical instrument, a whistle, the wind, etc.) to give forth a loud, shrill sound.

verb (used with object)

to utter in a shriek:
to shriek defiance.

shriek

/ ʃriːk /

noun

a shrill and piercing cry

verb

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

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Derived Forms

ˈshrieker, noun

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Other Words From

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

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of shriek¹

C16: probably from Old Norse skrækja to screech ¹

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Synonym Study

See scream.

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Example Sentences

Shakespeare’s play assumes the shrieks and shrill cries of a B-movie.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m a high-energy guy and I love the game and I love the way I am able to still go out and still help my team and compete,” James said after his Christmas night shriek.

From Los Angeles Times

"You garbage people! I'm tired, so what do you want? Are you afraid of me?" shrieks the young woman defiantly, before she is bundled through the barricade and taken away.

From BBC

There are paintings, dolls and ceramic figures, each with its own expression — smiling, laughing, smirking, weeping or silently shrieking.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From New York Times

Related Words

Shrewsbury shrieval

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