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
Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024
Of course, using piezoelectrics to produce a full range of high-quality audio is a long way from making a smoke alarm screech.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screech 
Noun
Apart from the screech of tires, the vehicles made little noise.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024
Of course, using piezoelectrics to produce a full range of high-quality audio is a long way from making a smoke alarm screech.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screech
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'screech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Screech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screech. Accessed 29 May. 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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