Shriek

To shriek is to utter a loud, piercing, and often high-pitched cry, typically expressing extreme emotion such as pain, fear, excitement, or anger. It is a sudden and involuntary vocalization, frequently characterized by a sharp, harsh sound. A shriek can be a single, drawn-out sound or a series of rapid, staccato bursts. The intensity and duration of a shriek often correlate with the emotional state of the person or creature producing it. Shrieks can also be attributed to inanimate objects when they make a loud, unpleasant sound suggestive of pain or distress, for example, the shriek of train brakes or the shriek of metal grinding on metal.

Shriek meaning with examples

• As the rollercoaster plunged down the steep drop, Sarah let out a bloodcurdling shriek, her voice lost among the delighted screams of her friends. It was a primal reaction of pure terror and exhilaration, echoing in the humid air. Once she was back on solid ground she was laughing, the earlier shriek replaced with giggles, and ready for another ride.
• A tiny mouse darted across the kitchen floor, causing Emily to shriek in surprise and leap onto the countertop. Her dog, startled by the sudden noise, let out a bark. The mouse, taking advantage of the chaos, scurried behind the refrigerator. The air was thick with the aftermath of the unforeseen shriek.
• The old house groaned and creaked in the wind, the rusted window frames producing a ghostly shriek. The sound intensified as the storm raged, the mournful sounds reflecting the growing apprehension of those inside. The haunting shriek of the wind became almost unbearable, amplified by the eerie silence that would follow when the storm stopped.
• During the heated debate, Mr. Johnson's voice rose until he emitted a sudden, frustrated shriek directed at his opponent. It was a moment of uncontrolled emotion, a sound of both anger and desperation. The whole room fell silent, stunned by the outburst, the harshness of the shriek hanging in the air.
• The brakes on the bus screeched, followed by a collective gasp and shriek of terror from the passengers as a car narrowly avoided a collision. The abrupt, piercing shriek of metal on metal was the sound of near disaster, a close encounter with what could have been a terrifying situation.