Various aspects described herein relate to techniques for synchronization signal transmissions in wireless communications (e.g., 5th Generation New Radio). In an aspect, a method includes detecting that a medium in a shared spectrum is busy, and delaying a transmission of a synchronization signal (SS) block in the shared spectrum in response to detecting that the medium is busy. The method further includes detecting that the previously busy medium is free, and transmitting, in response to detecting that the medium is free, a filler signal before transmitting the SS block in the shared spectrum, and the SS block includes one or more discovery reference signals (DRSs).