screams 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of scream
1
as in shrieks
to cry out loudly and emotionally we screamed when the roller coaster began its 30-foot plunge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laughs
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound you'll scream when you see the outfit that she's wearing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely angry residents screamed that their neighborhood still hadn't been plowed a week after the snowstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

screams

2 of 2

noun

plural of scream
as in hoots
someone or something that is very funny that new comedy is a scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of screams
Verb
The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard. — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Graham and some of this congregation brought ice cream to their staffs — teenagers mostly, some of whom likely worked the weekend shift and heard the shots and screams next door. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026 Capable of reaching speeds of up to 72 mph, the outdoor coaster has brought backlash from neighbors, who say screams from test riders have echoed across the nearby Toluca Lake community, as Fox 11 Los Angeles reported. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Its thick material is ideal for tricky transitional dressing, and its boxy fit just screams effortlessly cool. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026 Contrary to his radio silence at today’s hearings, one thing that screams with clarity is Fauci’s diary. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Another resident spoke of downloading a smartphone app to track decibel levels throughout the day, intending to document the noise of the coaster screams and report any violations. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026 Pink grapefruit and blood orange accompany tangerine in creating a citrus-forward scent that just screams summertime fun. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 23 July 2026
Noun
For the first time, two worlds—once separated—are coming face to face, not through screams, but through laughter. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026 According to police records, a father dropping off two of his children for daycare heard screams coming from the basement. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 At that point, say many Toluca Lake residents, the screams became untenable. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Residents of Studio City have been complaining about screams echoing down the Cahuenga Pass during this soft opening period. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 The woman eventually managed to escape and ran to a neighbor for help, WPLG reported, adding that her piercing screams were captured on home surveillance video. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Thinking there was a fender-bender in the parking lot, Frederick and Bassett walked outside, heard screams and looked across the parking lot where a man was stabbing a woman in the front seat of a car. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 But the car took off, barreling away down the street as the smoke and the screams of the family mingled. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 In another part of the facility, the screams of industrial machinery made talking difficult, and the fumes from hot epoxy filled the air. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screams
  1. shrieks
  2. laughs
  3. complains
  4. hoots
  5. squeals
  6. giggles
  7. whines
  8. riots
Verb
  • Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of shrieks
Verb
  • The rest of the video cuts to the pro getting his shaggy platinum blonde hair snipped and shaved down to a shorter look by the reality star, who laughs multiple times while taking charge of Appleton’s transformation.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The friend laughs and dips her head toward her hand on the bar in delight.
    — Liz Johnson, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of laughs
Verb
  • Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of complains
Noun
  • With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
  • Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Definition of hoots
Verb
  • Soto’s Marie pouts and squeals with abandon.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • At bars across the United States, live watch parties were packed, squeals resounding.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of squeals
Verb
  • But Alexca, a bubbly toddler who giggles and runs about, has conquered her grandmother’s heart.
    — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Herbert then grabs Beer's face and pulls her in for a kiss as the singer giggles.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
Definition of giggles
Verb
  • At one point, when Reagan suggests sharing missile-defense technology, Gorbachev stands up and whines about how America will not even share dairy technology so that the Soviets can provide milk to their children.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of whines
Noun
  • This is also the time of year when local sports talk radio shows flourish, inciting near-riots over how their team was shafted compared to others within their own conference.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • What happened in the aftermath of the riots, according to Thomas who grew up going to a church in Opa-Locka, was an organized push from the Black community to vote in local elections.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of riots

Browse Nearby Words

screaming meemies
screams
screech
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screams. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on screams

Nglish: Translation of screams for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All