shriek Hear it!

shriek Definition

shriek (s̸hrēk)

intransitive verb

to make a loud, sharp, piercing cry or sound, as certain animals, or a person in terror, pain, or laughter; screech

Etymology: ME schriken, var. of scriken, prob. < ON *skrīka, to cry, akin to skrīkja, cry of birds: for IE base see scream

transitive verb

to utter with a shriek

noun

a loud, piercing cry or sound

shriek Related Forms
shrieker noun
shriek Synonyms

shriek

n.

scream, screech, howl; see cry 1, 3, yell 1.

shriek Synonyms

shriek

v.

scream, screech, squawk; see cry 1, 3, yell.

shriek Usage Examples

Object

  • child: So what the hell am I supposed to do when finding myself stuck on a rollercoaster with shrieking children making me crazy?

Converse of object

  • utter: Starting up on his knees, he uttered a wild shriek.
  • emit: He was a walking bubble and emitting piercing shrieks.
  • hear: Soon they heard shrieks of terror, which made the blood run cold in their veins.
  • give: Everywhere she looked, sickly colors bounced from bubbling test tubes, and dark corners gave suspect shrieks.

Adjective modifier

  • piercing: The mother felt the child slipping, and a piercing shriek escaped from her as she raised her knees and caught it between them.
  • loud: There was a loud shriek from a woman behind.
  • wild: Starting up on his knees, he uttered a wild shriek.
  • little: Buffy's little shriek seemed meant to accompany his own surge of self- loathing.

Modifying Another Word

  • again: In an effort to clear the pain his thumb and forefinger pinched the bridge of his nose, and she shrieked again.
  • aloud: He shrieked aloud; the flask dropped from his hand and broke in pieces.
  • loudly: Spraying through the air until they fell upon the cheeks of my own face, they caused me to shriek loudly in surprise.

Preposition: in

  • horror: Employees and customers alike shrieked in horror, but only until Scott yelled, " Shut up!

Preposition: of

  • laughter: Judging from their shrieks of laughter they were all clearly having the time of their lives.
  • delight: The trains on all the lines carried on the note with a wheezy shriek of delight.
  • terror: Soon they heard shrieks of terror, which made the blood run cold in their veins.
  • pain: Famous Last Words A final gasp or a shriek of pain.
  • woman: The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.

Preposition: with

  • laughter: Years later the irreverent Toilie would say ' I'm nuts because I was named by a crazy man ' and shriek with laughter.
  • delight: We also shriek with delight at the " club lounge " .
shriek Quotes

Now air is hushed, save where the weak-eyed bat With short shrill shriek flits by on leathern wing, Or where the beetle winds His small but sullen horn, As oft he rises midst the twilight path, Against the pilgrim borne in heedless hum.

—Collins,William

Browse dictionary entries near shriek

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  3. shrewish
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  5. shrewdly
  6. shrewdie
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  10. shredder
  1. shrieking
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