shrill

¹shrill

verb \ˈshril, especially Southern ˈsril\

Definition of SHRILL

transitive verb

: scream

intransitive verb

: to utter or emit an acute piercing sound

Examples of SHRILL

1. <the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist>

Origin of SHRILL

Middle English; probably akin to Old English scrallettan to resound loudly — more at skirl

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SHRILL

Synonyms

howl, screech, shriek, scream, squall, squeal, yelp, yell

Related Words

bay, caterwaul, keen, squawk, wail, yawp (or yaup), yowl; bawl, call, cry, holler, shout, thunder, vociferate

Near Antonyms

murmur, mutter, whisper

Rhymes with SHRILL

bill, brill, chill, dill, drill, fill, frill, gill, grill, grille, hill, ill, kill, krill, mil, mill, mille, nil, nill, Phil, pill, prill, quill, rill, shill, sill, skill, spill, squill, still, swill, thill, thrill, til, till, trill, twill, vill, will

²shrill

adjective

Definition of SHRILL

1

a : having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound : piercing

b : accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds or cries <shrill gaiety>

2

: having a sharp or vivid effect on the senses <shrill light>

3

: strident, intemperate <shrill anger> <shrill criticism>

— shrill adverb

— shrill·ness noun

— shril·ly \ˈshril-lē, especially Southern ˈsril-\ adverb

Examples of SHRILL

1. <the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle>

First Known Use of SHRILL

14th century

Related to SHRILL

Synonyms

high-pitched, piping, screeching, shrieking, squeaking, squeaky, treble, whistling

Antonyms

bass, deep, grave, low, throaty

Related Words

peeping, thin, tinny; earsplitting, nasal, penetrating, piercing, sharp, strident; squealing, whining, whiny (also whiney), yapping, yelping

Near Antonyms

gruff, hoarse, husky, rough, smoky (also smokey)

³shrill

noun

Definition of SHRILL

: a shrill sound <the shrill of the ship's whistle>

First Known Use of SHRILL

1589