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.

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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

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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

Explanation

A high-pitched, piercing cry is a shriek. A common response to finding a snake curled in the silverware drawer would be to shriek. You can shriek in fear, surprise, or even shriek with laughter. If the sound you make is high, sharp, and loud, it's a shriek. A teenager who sees her favorite movie star might shriek, "Look who it is!" And, little kids in an inflatable bouncy house will very likely shriek with delight. The word shriek sounds very much like what it means, and its Old Norse root skrækja, "to screech," may have originated for that very reason.

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

There were cheers in Park Slope, and one Slate reporter saw a woman look at her phone, read the verdict, and shriek, “Sometimes good things do happen!”

From Slate • May 30, 2024

Then there’s the sweat and, sweatier still, the sounds of athletes who let go of any sense of shame as they grunt, huff, pant, shriek and curse.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2024

Lily’s shriek is happier than mine, but just as loud.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

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