screech
Owl's piercing call
Screech is a harsh, high-pitched sound—sharp and unpleasant, like tires on pavement or an owl's cry.
The word works as both noun and verb: The car came to a halt with a screech of brakes; She screeched at him to stop.
Unlike a scream, which suggests fear or pain, screech emphasizes the grating quality of the sound itself.
Shrill, piercing cry
- squealShrill, piercing cry
- squawkHarsh grating bird cry
- screamingLoud, shrill vocalizing
- wailProlonged mournful cry
howl · caterwaul · yowl · scream · cry · shrill · piercing · high-pitched
Rubber wheel coverings
- rubberElastic polymer from trees
- skidUncontrolled lateral slide
- haltComplete sudden stop
- stopCease all motion
swerve · pavement · asphalt · friction · burnout · peel out · squealing · car
Heart-faced nocturnal raptor
predator · talons · feathers · hunting · night · woodland · nesting · territorial
Reflexive recoil from distress
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- startleFrighten suddenly
jolt · grimace · recoil · unpleasant · annoying · irritating · unsettling · jarring
shriek
Shrill, piercing cry
wail · howl · caterwaul · yowl · scream · cry · shrill · piercing · high-pitched · earsplitting
shriek
Shrill, piercing cry
holler · bellow · exclaim · cry out · vocalize · rasp · harsh · strained · shrill · piercing
tires
Rubber wheel coverings
stop · swerve · pavement · asphalt · friction · burnout · peel out · squealing · car · vehicle
barn owl
Heart-faced nocturnal raptor
call · predator · talons · feathers · hunting · night · woodland · nesting · territorial · pellet
wince
Reflexive recoil from distress
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
startle · jolt · grimace · recoil · unpleasant · annoying · irritating · unsettling · jarring · grating
- animal callsbird call, bird calls, ribbit, frog calls, peep
- harsh soundsshriek, squawk, squeal, grate, rasp
- loud criesscream, shriek, yell, howl, wail
- loud soundsloud, scream, yell, thunderous, screaming
- machine soundshumming, buzzing, whirring, clanking, grinding
- screechingshriek, squeal, screaming, squawk, yelp
- screech owlsSmall raptors with piercing calls
screeching, screechy, screeches, screeched, screecher, screechiest, screechers, screechings, screech owl