shrilled; shrilling; shrills
: to utter or emit an acute piercing sound
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
: a shrill sound
the shrill of the ship's whistle
Examples of shrill in a Sentence
Verb
the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist
Adjective
the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle
Recent Examples on the Web
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
This device is very loud and shrill when operating.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
One option is to simply double down on the existing approach and become shriller.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Devonne Goode, Parents, 18 Apr. 2025
What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud shrill that will instantly scare an intruder away.
—Stephanie Gray, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrill
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Verb
The shrieks and shrills filled the room.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
This device is very loud and shrill when operating.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
Adjective
Arriving in January, the California Post will be Murdoch’s transplant of his right-leaning tabloid the New York Post, replete with shrill headlines and randy gossip.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
One option is to simply double down on the existing approach and become shriller.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
The Ochi speak, not with words, but sounds—melodic shrills that reverberate in the air and can be interpreted on an emotional level.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 18 Apr. 2025
What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud shrill that will instantly scare an intruder away.
—Stephanie Gray, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrill. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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