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Definitions

screeching

[skree-ching] / ˈskri tʃɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
harsh
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak grim hard rigid severe sharp strident
STRONG
coarse
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent cacophonous caterwauling clashing cracked craggy creaking croaking disagreeing discordant dissonant disturbing earsplitting flat glaring grating guttural hoarse incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping raucous rugged rusty sour stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bland bright calm cheerful easy facile flexible kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pliable pliant soft sunny yielding
WEAK
courteous gentle peaceful pleasing polite smooth
ADJECTIVE
scratchy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cracked discordant hoarse raspy raucous
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent bitter bleak cacophonous caterwauling clashing coarse craggy creaking croaking disagreeing dissonant disturbing dry earsplitting flat glaring grating grim guttural hard incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping rigid rough rugged rusty severe sharp sour squawky strident stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
soft
ADJECTIVE
shrill
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deafening discordant earsplitting noisy piercing raucous sharp strident
STRONG
blaring clanging penetrating piping thin treble
WEAK
acute argute blatant cacophonous clangorous ear-piercing high metallic
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm low mild moderate quiet soft
ADJECTIVE
squawky
Synonyms
WEAK
cacophonous caterwauling coarse cracked creaking croaking discordant dissonant earsplitting flat grating grim guttural hard hoarse jagged jangling jarring noisy off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping raspy raucous rough rugged rusty scratchy severe sharp sour strident stridulous tuneless unmelodious unmusical
ADJECTIVE
strident
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blatant jarring loud raucous vociferous
WEAK
boisterous clamorous clashing discordant grating hoarse jangling noisy obstreperous rasping squawky squeaky stentorian stertorous stridulant stridulous unmusical vociferant
Antonyms
STRONGEST
quiet silent soft subdued
WEAK
low mild moderate
NOUN
yelling
Synonyms
STRONG
bawling holler howling scream shout yell yelping yowling
Antonyms
WEAK
whisper whispering

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As we talk, on occasion the screeching call of a toucan pierces the quiet, and miles above, the same giant black birds hover menacingly in groups, surveying everything below.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Meanwhile, pop culture podcast The Spill titled its new episode "Why we're officially done with Timothée Chalamet", and posed the question: "Has the Timothée era officially come to a screeching halt?"

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Outside of major cities, rural communities still light sparklers and screeching "missile" fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which falls next week.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

A screeching howl goes off inside the water park.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

It wasn’t long until I heard the screeching of our old wheelbarrow coming through the house.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Vocabulary lists containing screeching

"The Interlopers" and "An Interview with the King of Terror"

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