shrill 1 of 3

verb

ˈshril How to pronounce shrill (audio)
Definition of shrillnext
as in to shriek
to cry out loudly and emotionally the mud-splattered bystanders were shrilling with outrage at the inconsiderate motorist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shrill

2 of 3

adjective

as in shrieking
having a high musical pitch or range the shrill sound of a policeman's whistle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shrill

3 of 3

noun

as in shriek

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of 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
Some cymbal hits came across as slightly shrill thanks to the high-mid emphasis. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026 And each dares to honor the humanity in characters often reduced to predators and prey by one faction, shrill social justice warriors and brave free thinkers by another. — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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 The cheering was so loud that even ear plugs wouldn’t have masked the shrill. — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 11 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for shrill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrill
  1. shriek
  2. screeching
  3. scream
  4. squeal
  5. high-pitched
  6. screech
  7. squeak
  8. yelp
Verb
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
  • Kids are shrieking through their favorite splash pads, faces sticky with Bomb Pop juice and joy.
    — Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 2 July 2026
Definition of shriek
Adjective
  • Ditch the pull-ups during the day There’s no disputing that pull-up diapers can be a great help with potty training, but when toddlers get too comfortable with what was intended to be a safety net, progress can grind to a screeching halt.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And in some parts of Greece, fires have forced tourism to come to a screeching halt.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of screeching
Noun
  • Additionally, the park is working to address noise complaints from neighbors, over the screams of enthusiastic riders.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Alexis Rowan, 27, survived the northern Arizona mountain-hike attack only because of screams that were heard by a woman in a nearby home, forcing the suspect to flee, harrowing doorbell camera footage showed.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Video shot by OnScene TV on August 9 showed people rushing in and out of the store, some carrying merchandise, as roaring engines and squealing tires are heard in the background.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Who's signing up for France's annual pig-squealing championship?
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeal
Adjective
  • Female eagles often repeat a solitary soft but high-pitched note.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Noise colors can be high-pitched (rapidly vibrating) sounds, low-pitched (slowly vibrating) sounds, or a combination.
    — Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of high-pitched
Noun
  • The screech of guitar feedback echoed from a makeshift stage outside, where a punk-rock band had just launched into their set, a fitting accompaniment to the bar’s kaleidoscopic selection of beer.
    — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • La Vierge de Fer contrasts the delicate fruit and a lily note with the screech of cold metal, sparkling aldehydes, and lilting sandalwood.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of screech
Noun
  • The mice used some of the squeaks within their nests and others on the fringes of their territory.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • Others reported a persistent squeak.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Definition of squeak
Noun
  • However, the chances of hearing a yelp from below are highly unlikely due to planes’ thick insulation and engine noise.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Dropping the volume on your foot would cause an agonized and very non-silent yelp.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of yelp

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Cite this Entry

“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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