shriek

American  

[shreek] / ʃrik /

noun

1. a loud, sharp, shrill cry.

   Synonyms:

   screech, scream

2. a loud, high sound of laughter.

3. any loud, shrill sound, as of a whistle.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud, sharp, shrill cry, as birds.

2. to cry out sharply in a high voice.

   to shriek with pain.

   Synonyms:

   screech, scream

3. to utter loud, high-pitched sounds in laughing.

4. (of a musical instrument, a whistle, the wind, etc.) to give forth a loud, shrill sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a shriek.

   to shriek defiance.

shriek British  

/ ʃriːk /

noun

1. a shrill and piercing cry

---

verb

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

Related Words

See scream.

Other Word Forms

• outshriek verb (used with object)
• shrieker noun
• shriekingly adverb
• shrieky adjective

Etymology

Origin of shriek

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

Example Sentences

She sang open-throated declarations, recited broken poetic verses, scatted with the authority of a jazz singer, moaned with bluesy intent, and occasionally let loose an unbridled shriek or giggle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

A shriek broke the dawn on the savannah, followed by more screeches and the rustle of branches: The wild Fongoli chimps were bidding each other good morning in the dry, scraggly Sahel.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

Children shriek with delight from the new playground at the Palisades Recreation Center.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

There is a delighted shriek as Rui dangles mid-air, before she starts rappelling down.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

Sabrina offered her opinion with a toe-curling shriek.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• howl
• screech
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whoop