as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally
the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shrieking
having a high musical pitch or range
the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shrill
Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 9 June 2022
Each of the four movements Thursday traced a giant decrescendo, coming on strong with cacophonous, often shrill music and slowly ebbing away in a dazzling variety of textures and colors, all of them sparse and serene.
—Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 7 Jan. 2022
George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Hazlitt, 20 Dec. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Verb
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s increasingly shrill brand of Hindu nationalism has inflamed religious animosity within the country.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 9 June 2022
Each of the four movements Thursday traced a giant decrescendo, coming on strong with cacophonous, often shrill music and slowly ebbing away in a dazzling variety of textures and colors, all of them sparse and serene.
—Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 7 Jan. 2022
Adjective
In turn, the tone has changed around Newcastle these past few days; less shrill, less edgy, less perilous.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
There has never been—knock on all wood—a bite, not even when that territorial shih tzu on Fawn Street broke away from its owner and chased us off the block with a shrill, honestly quite aggressive, warning.
—Hazlitt, 20 Dec. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrill
Verb
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Fans shrieked and hollered as every player in the realmwide war — Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint) and his nemesis Lohar (Abigail Thorn) — popped up.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
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As the noise-rap-electro act Jane Remover shrieked and pleaded through a 90-minute marathon set at the Fonda on Thursday night, one very young couple dressed right out of a conservative‘s nightmare — gender-ambiguous, purple hair, facial piercings — tapped me on the shoulder.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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That rushing attack was ground to a screeching halt, though, as Pitt came into Morgantown and upset the Mountaineers by the now infamous 13-9 scoreline.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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All that progress now comes to a screeching halt while Blue Origin investigates the cause of New Glenn's explosion and faces the task of rebuilding LC-36.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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And then there were the screams.—
Latif Love
June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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As the ball landed safely on the other side of the left field fence at Nationals Park on Monday, Dylan Crews clenched his fists and let out a scream.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Pigs that were being hauled by the semi could be heard squealing at the scene.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
-
Automatic weapons blasting, tires squealing, the whole bit.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Female eagles often repeat a solitary soft but high-pitched note.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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Noise colors can be high-pitched (rapidly vibrating) sounds, low-pitched (slowly vibrating) sounds, or a combination.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Guests range from ordinary commuters to figures like Cate Blanchett and Julian Casablancas, all subject to the same fluorescent lighting and ambient subway screech.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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Native to North America, eastern screech-owls are mostly gray, reddish-brown or brown with yellow eyes, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The vocal repertoire consisted of at least seven different squeak types.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Others reported a persistent squeak.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Some yelp in pain after stepping barefoot on a peanut or toy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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Lee's voice has always been Sui generis, a distinctive instrument caught between a whine and a yelp yet immediately recognizable.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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