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

As we talk, on occasion the screeching call of a toucan pierces the quiet, and miles above, the same giant black birds hover menacingly in groups, surveying everything below.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

The parallels to contemporary American culture are obvious if not literal, but Ms. Ziegler is too gifted a playwright to shrink a nuanced tragedy into a screeching protest sign.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Outside of major cities, rural communities still light sparklers and screeching "missile" fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which falls next week.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Her tenure at the outlet came to a screeching halt after reports of her alleged romance with Kennedy, 71, surfaced last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

Whatever malevolent energy had been powering them was shut off, and they broke apart in screeching showers of rusty confetti.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

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