screeching
Shrill piercing noise
Screeching describes a harsh, high-pitched sound—unpleasant and piercing.
Tires screech when braking hard, owls screech in the night, children screech on playgrounds.
The word emphasizes the grating quality: The train came to a screeching halt.
Something that comes to a screeching halt stops abruptly and completely.
Shrill, piercing cry
- screamLoud sharp cry
- howlProlonged mournful cry
- wailProlonged mournful cry
- cryVocal expression of emotion
squeal · squawk · caterwaul · yowl · yelp · bellow · yell · shout
Nocturnal feathered predator
- hawkTaloned predatory bird
- eagleLarge predatory bird
- parrotSpeech-mimicking tropical bird
- macawLarge neotropical parrot
cockatoo · kookaburra · bat · monkey · howler · crow · raven · magpie
Devices for stopping motion
- tiresRubber wheel coverings
- tyresBritish spelling, car rubbers
- haltComplete sudden stop
- skidUncontrolled lateral slide
rubber · pavement · wheels · swerve · collision · traffic · car · bus
Wailing alert device
- alertWarning or watchfulness
- warningAlert about danger
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- signalMessage-conveying cue
detector · smoke alarm · car alarm · burglar alarm · fire alarm · klaxon · buzzer · horn
shriek
Shrill, piercing cry
cry · squeal · squawk · caterwaul · yowl · yelp · bellow · yell · shout · hoot
owl
Nocturnal feathered predator
macaw · cockatoo · kookaburra · bat · monkey · howler · crow · raven · magpie · jay
brakes
Devices for stopping motion
skid · rubber · pavement · wheels · swerve · collision · traffic · car · bus · motorcycle
siren
Wailing alert device
signal · detector · smoke alarm · car alarm · burglar alarm · fire alarm · klaxon · buzzer · horn · loudspeaker
- vocalizationsspeak, speaking, talking, whisper, shout
- loud noisesnoise, bang, crash, roar, boom
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- bird traitsfeathered, plumed, plumage, plumaged, beaky
- harsh soundsshriek, squawk, squeal, grate, rasp
- loud soundsloud, scream, yell, thunderous, screaming
screechingmelodious
Agreeable in sound
harmonious · euphonious · dulcet · mellifluous · melodic