shriek
shreek
/ʃriːk/
To utter a high-pitched, piercing cry or sound, especially in terror, pain, or extreme excitement.
Implies a sudden, sharp, and very high-frequency sound. It is almost always involuntary, triggered by intense emotion like fear or hysterical laughter.
The story behind the word. The word 'shriek' emerged in Middle English as 'schriken', sharing roots with Old Norse 'skríkja' (to twitter or shriek like a bird). It has always carried an imitative quality, mimicking the sharp, sudden sound of a startled creature.
Word relationships
- screech: Screech is often harsher, more discordant, and more closely associated with mechanical or animal noises than shriek.
- scream: Scream is a broader term that can be high or low pitched, whereas shriek is strictly high-pitched and piercing.
- sigh: A sigh is a quiet, low-pitched exhalation of breath expressing sadness or relief.
Commonly confused with
- shrub: A shrub is a woody plant, completely unrelated to the vocal sound of a shriek.
Word family
- shrieked (verb (past)): Uttered a high-pitched, piercing cry.
- shrieking (adjective/noun): Making a high-pitched cry; the sound itself.
Collocations
- shriek of laughter
- shriek in terror
- piercing shriek
- shriek with delight
Example sentences
- "She let out a loud shriek when the fake spider dropped from the ceiling." A reaction to a sudden fright in a horror movie.
- "The wind began to shriek through the narrow gaps in the window frame." Describing the sound of wind or machinery.
Memory hook
Think of 'shriek' sounding like 'shrek' when he gets scared by a tiny mouse. A sharp, high-pitched shriek of fear.
When not to use
Do not use for deep, booming voices. A large, angry man does not typically shriek; he bellows or roars.
Fun facts
- In folklore, the Banshee is famous for her terrifying shriek, which was said to predict a death in the household.
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