Shriek Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Shriek" refers to a high-pitched, sharp, piercing sound, often made as a reaction to extreme emotion like fear or excitement. e.g., She let out a shriek when she saw the spider.
Table of Contents
Shriek Definitions
Shriek pertains to a sound of excitement or joy.
The children's shriek of delight filled the room.
Shriek denotes a sound of alarm or shock.
His shriek alerted everyone to the danger.
Shriek involves a vocal expression of intense emotion.
The surprise caused her to shriek uncontrollably.
Shriek refers to screaming in a high-pitched tone.
The sudden noise caused her to shriek in surprise.
Shriek can refer to making a loud, sharp noise.
The brakes of the car made a shriek as they stopped suddenly.
Shriek means a loud, sharp, high-pitched cry.
The audience's shriek during the movie showed how scared they were.
Shriek can describe a sound of acute distress or terror.
His shriek echoed through the empty house.
Shriek is used for a sudden, loud vocal expression.
She let out a shriek of laughter.
Shriek can mean a high-pitched and loud vocal sound.
The audience's shriek signaled the start of the concert.
A shrill, often frantic cry.
A sound suggestive of such a cry.
To utter a shriek.
To make a sound similar to a shriek.
To utter with a shriek.
A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.
An exclamation mark.
(intransitive) To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.
(transitive) To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.
To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish.
It was the owl that shrieked.
At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful trainEchoed her grief.
To utter sharply and shrilly; to utter in or with a shriek or shrieks.
On top whereof aye dwelt the ghostly owl,Shrieking his baleful note.
She shrieked his nameTo the dark woods.
A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild cry such as is caused by sudden or extreme terror, pain, or the like.
Shrieks, clamors, murmurs, fill the frighted town.
Sharp piercing cry;
Her screaming attracted the neighbors
A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry;
He ducked at the screechings of shells
He heard the scream of the brakes
Utter a shrill cry
Shriek describes a sharp, piercing sound or cry.
The owl's shriek was heard in the night.
Shriek Snonyms
Scream
Give a long, loud, piercing cry or cries expressing extreme emotion or pain.
She screamed in horror when she saw the spider.
Screech
A high-pitched noise resembling a human cry.
The tires screeched as the car came to a sudden stop.
Yell
A loud, sharp cry of pain, surprise, or delight.
He gave a yell of excitement when his team scored.
Squawk
A loud, harsh, screeching sound.
The parrot let out a loud squawk when disturbed.
Wail
A prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.
The baby's wail could be heard across the house.
Holler
A loud cry or shout.
He hollered for help from the other room.
Howl
A long, doleful cry uttered by an animal such as a dog or wolf.
The wolves howled under the full moon.
Shrill
High-pitched and piercing.
The whistle's shrill sound hurt my ears.
Cry
Shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow.
She began to cry after hearing the sad news.
Bawl
Shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly.
The child bawled for his mother in the store.
Shriek Idioms & Phrases
A shriek in the night
A sudden, unexpected, and often frightening sound heard at night.
They were startled awake by a shriek in the night.
Shriek of delight
A high-pitched sound made in response to something extremely pleasing.
The kids let out a shriek of delight when they saw the puppy.
To shriek in horror
To scream loudly because of extreme fear.
When she saw the spider, she shrieked in horror.
Shriek with laughter
To laugh very loudly and uncontrollably.
The comedian's joke made the audience shriek with laughter.
A shriek of pain
A loud, sharp cry as a reaction to intense physical discomfort or pain.
He let out a shriek of pain when he accidentally hit his thumb with the hammer.
Echoing shrieks
Loud screams that reverberate or are heard repeatedly.
Echoing shrieks filled the haunted house.
Send out a shriek
To emit a loud, sharp cry, usually for help or attention.
Lost in the woods, she sent out a shriek hoping someone would hear her.
Shriek of surprise
A loud, sharp sound made in reaction to something unexpected.
She let out a shriek of surprise when the fireworks started.
Shriek with excitement
To scream or yell loudly due to overwhelming enthusiasm or joy.
She shrieked with excitement when she found out she had won the contest.
Silence broken by a shriek
A sudden loud scream that interrupts a quiet or calm moment.
The silence of the forest was broken by a shriek.
Shriek at the top of one's lungs
To scream as loudly as possible.
The fans shrieked at the top of their lungs when the band came on stage.
The shriek of the wind
The high-pitched howling sound made by the wind.
The eerie shriek of the wind made the stormy night even more unsettling.
A shriek cuts through the air
A sudden scream that pierces the surrounding silence or noise.
A shriek cut through the air as the roller coaster plummeted.
A shriek of laughter
A very loud and uncontrolled laugh.
Her story was so funny that it provoked a shriek of laughter from everyone.
Muffled shrieks
Screams that are stifled or not fully audible.
Muffled shrieks could be heard from the other room.
A shriek echoed
A scream that is repeated or reverberated in the surrounding environment.
A shriek echoed through the canyon as she called for help.
Shriek of joy
A loud, high-pitched sound expressing happiness.
There was a shriek of joy from the crowd when the winning goal was scored.
Shriek at the sight
To scream upon seeing something shocking or unexpected.
She shrieked at the sight of the snake slithering across the path.
Shriek in fear
To let out a loud scream due to being scared.
He shrieked in fear when he saw the shadow move.
Shriek Example Sentences
His joke made her shriek with laughter.
The sudden thunder made me shriek in fear.
Her shriek could be heard from across the street.
A shriek of joy escaped her when she won.
The roller coaster's drop caused everyone to shriek.
She gave a shriek when the lights went out.
They heard a shriek from the old house.
The bird let out a shriek at dawn.
The crowd let out a collective shriek of excitement.
Her shriek at seeing the surprise was priceless.
A shriek of pain echoed after the fall.
The actress's shriek in the film was very realistic.
The fox's nighttime shriek startled the campers.
Each knock at the door was met with a shriek.
His shriek was heard when he saw the mouse.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in shriek?
The entire word "shriek" is stressed as it consists of only one syllable.
Why is it called shriek?
"Shriek" likely comes from the Old Norse "skrækja," meaning to screech. It refers to a high-pitched, sharp, and piercing sound often made in response to fear or excitement.
What is the verb form of shriek?
"Shriek" itself is a verb form.
What is the root word of shriek?
The root of "shriek" is from the Old Norse "skrækja."
What is the first form of shriek?
The first form of "shriek" is "shriek."
How is shriek used in a sentence?
Example: "She let out a loud shriek when she saw the spider."
How do we divide shriek into syllables?
"Shriek" cannot be divided into syllables as it is a single-syllable word.
What is the second form of shriek?
The second form of "shriek" is "shrieked."
What is another term for shriek?
Another term for "shriek" is "scream" or "screech."
How many syllables are in shriek?
There is one syllable in "shriek."
What is the pronunciation of shriek?
Shriek is pronounced as /ʃriːk/.
Is shriek an adverb?
No, "shriek" is not an adverb.
What is the third form of shriek?
The third form of "shriek" is also "shrieked."
What part of speech is shriek?
"Shriek" is both a noun and a verb.
What is the singular form of shriek?
"Shriek" itself is the singular form.
What is the plural form of shriek?
The plural form of "shriek" is "shrieks."
Is shriek a negative or positive word?
"Shriek" is generally considered negative, as it often implies fear or distress.
Is shriek a countable noun?
Yes, as a noun, "shriek" is countable.
Is shriek a noun or adjective?
"Shriek" is a noun and a verb, but not an adjective.
Is shriek a vowel or consonant?
"Shriek" is a word, not a vowel or consonant. However, it starts with the consonant 's'.
Is shriek an abstract noun?
No, as a noun, "shriek" is concrete, referring to a specific sound.
Is the word shriek is imperative?
"Shriek" can be used in the imperative mood as a verb, as in a command or request.
Is the word “shriek” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Shriek" can be used as either a direct object or an indirect object in a sentence when it functions as a noun.
What is the opposite of shriek?
The opposite of "shriek" might be "whisper" or "murmur."
Is the word shriek Gerund?
The gerund form of "shriek" is "shrieking."
Which vowel is used before shriek?
The choice of vowel before "shriek" depends on the preceding word in a sentence.
Which conjunction is used with shriek?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "shriek," depending on the sentence structure.
Is shriek a collective noun?
No, "shriek" is not a collective noun.
Is the shriek term a metaphor?
"Shriek" can be used metaphorically to describe any loud, piercing sound, but it's commonly used in its literal sense.
Which determiner is used with shriek?
Determiners such as "a," "the," "this," "that," "some," etc., can be used with "shriek."
Which preposition is used with shriek?
Prepositions like "with," "of," or "at" can be used with "shriek," depending on the context.
Which article is used with shriek?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "shriek," depending on whether it's used in a specific or general context.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
