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Definition of shrike

shrike

/ʃraɪk/
shrike
Plural:shrikes
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shrike Lexical Profile

shrike Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous predatory songbirds of the family Laniidae, characterized by a sharply hooked bill and the distinct behavioral habit of impaling their prey, such as insects and small vertebrates, on thorns or barbed wire.

Example

"While walking along the fence line, we noticed a grasshopper impaled on the barbed wire, a clear sign that a shrike had been hunting nearby."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shrike

• Rhymes for shrike

• Nearby Words

shriek
shrieker
shrieky
shrike
shrill
shrillness
shrilly

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'scrīc', likely of imitative origin referring to the bird's harsh, shrill call. It shares an etymological root with the word 'shriek'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shrike. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shrike
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