shrieker
|shrie-ker|
🇺🇸
/ˈʃriːkər/
🇬🇧
/ˈʃriːkə/
one that makes a high-pitched cry
Etymology
'shrieker' originates from English, specifically formed from the verb 'shriek' plus the agentive suffix '-er'.
'shriek' comes from Middle English (e.g. 'shreken'), meaning 'to utter a high-pitched cry', and the agentive suffix '-er' was later attached to form the noun 'shrieker'.
Initially the root verb meant 'to utter a high-pitched cry'; over time the derived noun 'shrieker' came to mean 'one that shrieks' or 'something that shrieks'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who shrieks; someone who utters high-pitched cries, especially from fear, pain, or excitement.
A shrieker in the crowd drew everyone's attention with her piercing cry.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/18 13:07