banshee-like wail
- noun
:
lamento de banshee
- A banshee-like wail pierced the night when the news was announced.
Examples
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As thunder rolled, her banshee-like wail sent shivers down my spine.
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The banshee-like wail echoed through the empty halls.
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The sudden banshee-like wail from the baby startled everyone in the room.
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Did you hear that banshee-like wail last night?
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A banshee-like wail echoed through the dark forest, warning us of impending danger.
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The child let out a banshee-like wail when she realized her toy was missing.
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As the storm approached, a banshee-like wail could be heard in the distance, chilling all who heard it.
Synonyms
596
1.0
A loud high cry made when someone is afraid or hurt
142
1.0
A loud call that an animal or person makes
92
1.9
A very loud high, piercing noise that hurts the ears
58
3.3
A very loud high sound that hurts your ears
54
3.2
A long loud cry that shows pain or deep sadness
47
4.1
A long loud cry that shows strong feeling
43
1.7
A long loud cry or laugh that shows strong feeling
43
2.7
A loud high sound showing fear, pain or excitement
39
2.9
A loud, high, sharp sound that startles people
35
7.5
A very loud shout or cry that shows strong feeling
15
3.0
A loud, very high sound like a scream made by a person or animal
5
3.5
Loud long cries made when someone feels deep pain or sadness
3
7.2
A loud, long cry that sounds like an animal in pain
2
8.6
A long high sad cry people make for someone who died
1
9.9
A high, loud sound that bagpipes often make
1
9.6
A loud high pitched crying sound made by a cat
1
9.9
A very loud cry like an animal's call made by a person
A loud strong cry that someone or an animal makes
How Loud
Surface Forms
Morphology
banshee-like + wail
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'banshee-like' means 'similar to a banshee' and directly modifies 'wail' (a loud, mournful cry), so the overall meaning (a loud, piercing, mournful cry) is derivable from the constituents. While 'banshee' is culturally specific, the '-like' adjective pattern plus the noun 'wail' follows a regular English formation that a learner who knows the parts would understand.
Etymology
Banshee-like wail comes from Irish stories. In those tales a spirit called a banshee gives a very loud, sad wail to warn that someone is 'about to die', so the phrase now describes a very loud, sharp cry like that warning.