screeching

American  

[skree-ching] / ˈskri tʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing or uttering screeches.

   screeching bats.

2. characteristic of screeches; harshly shrill.

   a screeching tone.

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noun

1. the act or sound of a person or thing that screeches.

Other Word Forms

• screechingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of screeching

First recorded in 1610–20; screech + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

What was left of the Evans house?—and there was an awful screeching sound.

From Literature

There are screeching sounds and thumping sounds, and then my dark box heaves itself up and I am thrown into the walls.

From Literature

A screeching howl goes off inside the water park.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We’re off to a good start now, but keep in mind that a lot of good starts have come to a screeching halt,” said state climatologist Mike Anderson.

From Los Angeles Times

It feels like there’s a skyscraper pushing into my chest and my heart is going to burst out of me and seven death metal bands are screeching at the same time inside my head.

From Literature

Related Words

• bitter
• bleak
• grim
• hard
• rigid
• severe
• sharp
• strident