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.

sound

shriek

Shrill, piercing cry

wail · howl · caterwaul · yowl · scream · cry · shrill · piercing · high-pitched · earsplitting

voice

shriek

Shrill, piercing cry

holler · bellow · exclaim · cry out · vocalize · rasp · harsh · strained · shrill · piercing

brakes

tires

Rubber wheel coverings

  • rubberElastic polymer from trees
  • skidUncontrolled lateral slide
  • haltComplete sudden stop

stop · swerve · pavement · asphalt · friction · burnout · peel out · squealing · car · vehicle

owl

barn owl

Heart-faced nocturnal raptor

call · predator · talons · feathers · hunting · night · woodland · nesting · territorial · pellet

reaction

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

Categories
Opposites
volume/intensity

screechwhisper

Speech without full voice

murmur · mutter · hush · mumble · soft voice

sound quality

screechcroon

Sing in soft tones

coo · purr · hum · melody · lullaby

MOVEMENT QUALITY (for vehicles/objects)

screechglide

Move with effortless continuity

coast · cruise · drift · slide · ease

Phrases
Family

screeching, screechy, screeches, screeched, screecher, screechiest, screechers, screechings, screech owl

Familiarity
Top 10,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G