Definition of shrill
: to utter or emit an acute piercing sound
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Examples of shrill in a Sentence
the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist
Origin and Etymology of shrill
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
Examples of shrill in a Sentence
the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle
Recent Examples of shrill from the Web
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Larson's score remains a mix of soul-stirring ballads and shrill screeds.
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Fox News’ Hannity calamity Sean Hannity loves to rip the mainstream media in his role as a shrill shill for President Trump.
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Then, from the right, came a shrill whoop as a third group charged out of the bushes, shouting and firing.
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In the months since, the language has got more shrill; the accusations from Moscow ever more outlandish.
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Some diplomats reported hearing shrill sounds before the onset of their symptoms; others did not.
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Firstly, the speaker on this phone gets loud without ever becoming shrill or distorted.
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Before the chicks hatch in a few weeks, be sure to listen for the shrill call of the nesting bird.
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Yet surely no one anticipated the falsetto passages that soared high into the stratosphere without becoming shrill.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of shrill
14th century
shrill Synonyms
Synonyms
high-pitched, piping, screeching, shrieking, squeaking, squeaky, treble, whistling;
Related Words
earsplitting, nasal, penetrating, piercing, sharp, strident;
Recent Examples of shrill from the Web
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The shrills first arose when the record-signing refused teammate Edinson Cavani the opportunity to make history by not allowing him to take a penalty against Olympique Lyon.
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Inside a lobby of a downtown Tuscaloosa hotel, the shrill of a phone ring echoes.
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Inside are piles of shrill and whining piccolo petes, neon flame-spouting blazing rebels and mounds of sparklers.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of shrill
1589
SHRILL Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of shrill for English Language Learners
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: to make a very loud, high-pitched sound
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: to say (something) in a very loud, high-pitched voice
shrill
Definition of shrill for English Language Learners
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: having a very loud, high-pitched sound
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: loud and difficult to ignore but often unreasonable
SHRILL Defined for Kids
Definition of shrill for Students
shrilled;
shrilling
1
: to make a high-pitched usually piercing sound
2
: to say in a loud high-pitched voice
- “Will!” a voice shrilled, and Mary came flying up the drive.
- —Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising
Definition of shrill for Students
shriller;
shrillest
: having a high-pitched usually piercing sound
- a shrill whistle
—
shrillness
noun
—
shrilly
\ˈshril-lē\ adverb- She spoke shrilly.
Learn More about shrill
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See words that rhyme with shrill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shrill Spanish Central: Translation of shrill Nglish: Translation of shrill for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shrill for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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