screechy

UK: /ˈskriːtʃɪ/ US: (skrē′chē)

Inflections of 'screechy' (adj):

screechier

adj comparative

screechiest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

screech•y  (skrē′chē), adj., screech•ier, screech•i•est. 

1. like or suggesting screeching.
2. producing screeches:
   a screechy door.

• screech + -y¹ 1820–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

screechy / ˈskriːtʃɪ/ adjective ( -ier, -iest)

1. loud and shrill

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

screech /skritʃ/  v. 

1. to make a harsh, shrill cry or sound: [no object]
   The car's tires screeched.
   [~ + object]
   to screech an answer.
   [used with quotations]
   "Get out of here!'' she screeched.

n. [countable]

2. a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   The screech of tires was followed by the sound of a collision.

screech•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est.  

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

screech  (skrēch), v.i. 

1. to utter or make a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   The child screeched hysterically. The brakes screeched.

v.t. 

2. to utter with a screech:
   She screeched her warning.

n. 

3. a harsh, shrill cry or sound:
   an owl's screech; the screech of brakes.

• 1550–60; variant of obsolete scritch to scream; akin to screak

screech′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See scream.