shriek

noun
UK: /ʃriːk/
US: /ʃriːk/

  1. A loud, piercing cry expressing extreme emotion or pain.

    1. Her shriek echoed through the empty house at night.
    2. The audience erupted in a collective shriek when the actor appeared onstage.

Synonyms

howl yell bawl cry scream
shriek verb

  1. To utter a loud, piercing cry, typically expressing extreme emotion or pain.

    1. She started to shriek when she saw a spider there.
    2. The children shriek with laughter as they played in the park all day.

  2. To say something in a loud, piercing way.

    1. "Help me!" he shriek across the room in panic, loud and clear.
    2. The angry boss shriek his orders, making everyone feel intimidated and nervous.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "shriek" is /ʃriːk/ in British English and /ʃriːk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "shriek": howl, yell, bawl, cry, scream.

Example usage of "shriek": "Her shriek echoed through the empty house at night.". More examples on the page.