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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Beyond shrill denunciations, this time around China has tightened the economic vise, discouraging travel to Japan and reimposing a ban on seafood imports.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 30 Nov. 2025
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
When Nosferatu showed his corpselike face, the Wonder Morton’s Vox Humana (human voice) and concert-flute pipes buzzed together in a shrill cluster.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Beyond shrill denunciations, this time around China has tightened the economic vise, discouraging travel to Japan and reimposing a ban on seafood imports.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 30 Nov. 2025
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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McEntire shrieks between laughs, gesturing to the photographer.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
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Near the launch site, members of the crowd shrieked or stared in disbelief.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Charles’ pack of dogs incessantly barked blood curdling screams.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
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From another ward not too far away, the piercing screams of a patient are audible.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Cheers alum regaled how his mom showed up on set of Indecent Proposal squealing like a 16-year old in her fandom of Redford, who warmly received her.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
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At bars across the United States, live watch parties were packed, squeals resounding.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The only noise is the dip-dip of oars and the ethereal screech of horseshoe bats.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The safety initiative is intended to calm traffic speeds in a town where the sound of screeching tires can fill the air of an otherwise peaceful Friday morning.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
16 Jan. 2026
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That gig, however, would come to a screeching halt.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Materials quality is quite good, and there’s nary a squeak or rattle to be heard while out and about, rolling over everyday roads and highways.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The sound is urgent, high-pitched, a little terrified, and completely communal — an anthem of permission.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
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Depending on the keyboard and its modifications, their sound can range from high-pitched and hollow to deep and full.—
Henri Robbins,
Wired News,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The yelps and chatter of a nursery school recess clattered down from a small hill overlooking the scene.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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They are pinched into a bright, almost surgical nasality or burst loose into grand, sideways arcs, flaring out in a feral yelp.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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