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
Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
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
Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
As the evening presses forward, a shrill scream goes thundering across the third floor, and the camera pans to showcase A.B. lying dead in the game room.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
Vulture, 3 Apr. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Verb
This device is very loud and shrill when operating.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
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
Adjective
The shrill, metallic banging noises of a jack hammer echoed around the White House on Monday as crews started removing the large, yellow Black Lives Matter mural down the street from the president's home.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
As the evening presses forward, a shrill scream goes thundering across the third floor, and the camera pans to showcase A.B. lying dead in the game room.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Harris guest-starred on Seinfeld for 27 episodes as the shrill Estelle Costanza, opposite Jerry Stiller as George’s father, Frank Costanza.
—Vulture, 3 Apr. 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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Berger’s tiny stage bulges like a clown car, stuffed with superb comedians such as Russell Daniels, playing a prospective son-in-law (and Grade A idiot) who shrieks around sick people, and Sarah Stiles, as a pert soubrette.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
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The nationwide campaign against DEI, inspired in large by Trump himself, is a shrieking dog whistle to a MAGA subset that wants only a white man’s world.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Whistles and boos met Chelsea possessions and when Pedro Neto scored the opening goal for the Blues in the 13th minute, the cheers from the blue end of the field were overtaken by the screams of rebuttal from the Flamengo fans scattered around this massive stadium.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
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After all, what would be more appropriate for our moment than a franchise movie that devolves into a series of anguished and disjointed screams?—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Chelsea squeals as Aubree takes in her birthday gift.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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When Ronaldo Jr went to warm up with his fellow subs behind the goal, the local kids all sprinted off in that direction and yelled and squealed ‘Cristiano’ or ‘Junior’ in the lad’s direction.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The constant clang of metal and the screech of drills suggest the sort of work underway at a warehouse-turned-workshop in this Ukrainian city about 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Kyiv.—
Dominique Soguel,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 June 2025
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The trio frantically scramble to stop the train, but as the film cuts to black, the sounds of glass shattering and the screech of wheels hammer in, yet again, that there’s no escape.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The running faucet of titles came to a screeching halt after the Habs won 32 years ago.—
David Close,
CNN Money,
17 June 2025
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This trend came to a screeching halt during the Covid-19 pandemic, but could be picking back up now.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
10 June 2025
Noun
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The gray puppy repeatedly makes silent barking motions until a high-pitched squeak finally escapes her mouth.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
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Her squeaks and sighs are my favorite noises on earth.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Another wrong impression involves Morrison’s voice, which seems excited and high-pitched.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2025
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The Nashville singer-songwriter waited a full day with the high-pitched, pulsing sound before calling her doctor to check her ears.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
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Throughout the flight, excited reactions and yelps could be heard from the crew over the live stream's audio feed.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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