1
: a high shrill piercing cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound resembling a screech
screeched; screeching; screeches
1
: to utter a high shrill piercing cry : make an outcry usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a shrill high-pitched sound resembling a screech
also
: to move with such a sound
the car screeched to a stop
: to utter with or as if with a screech
screecher
noun
Synonyms
Examples of screech in a Sentence
Noun
With a loud screech, she smashed the plate against the wall.
Verb
I screeched when I saw the mouse.
He kept screeching at the children to pay attention.
“You can't do this to me!” she screeched.
Recent Examples on the Web
Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
That’s where Fairfield’s mixes came in, allowing the dragons to chirp, screech, sigh, sing, or laugh.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
My general rule is that anything below 33,000 sends out a buzzing warning signal to the owners and anything below 30,000 is screeching alarm bells.
—Tim Kawakami, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screech 
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Noun
Now imagine the screech of a needle being dragged across vinyl, then swivel 180 degrees to think of the exact opposite.
—Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
That’s where Fairfield’s mixes came in, allowing the dragons to chirp, screech, sigh, sing, or laugh.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
Verb
Catherine walks blindly into the street, right in front of a speeding taxi, which screeches to a stop but still sends her spinning.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024
My general rule is that anything below 33,000 sends out a buzzing warning signal to the owners and anything below 30,000 is screeching alarm bells.
—Tim Kawakami, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screech
Articles Related to screech
Dictionary Entries Near screech
Cite this Entry
“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screech. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
screech
1 of 2 noun1
: a shrill harsh cry usually expressing pain or terror
2
: a sound like a screech
the screech of brakes
screech
2 of 2 verb1
: to cry out usually in terror or pain
2
: to make a sound like a screech
the car screeched to a halt
screecher
noun
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