shrill
/ʃrɪl/
noun
- A high-pitched, piercing sound.
- The shrill of the whistle signaled the end of the game.
- The sudden shrill of the telephone startled him.
- We could hear the shrill of cicadas on the hot summer evening.
verb
- To make a high-pitched, piercing sound.
- Birds shrilled in the trees as the storm approached.
- The tea kettle began to shrill as the water came to a boil.
- The microphone shrilled with feedback during the concert.
- To speak or cry out in a high-pitched, piercing voice.
- The children shrilled with excitement when they saw the ice cream truck.
- “Stop!” she shrilled, her voice cutting through the noise.
- He shrilled his complaints at the referee from the stands.
Synonyms
adjective
- Having a high-pitched and piercing sound; loud and unpleasant to hear.
- The fire alarm made a shrill noise that hurt my ears.
- Her shrill voice could be heard across the entire playground.
- The baby let out a shrill cry that woke everyone in the house.
- Used to describe a criticism, complaint, or demand that is forceful and often unreasonable or exaggerated.
- Her shrill demands for a refund made the store manager uncomfortable.
- The editorial was full of shrill warnings about the dangers of new technology.
- The politician's shrill attacks on his opponent turned off many voters.
Synonyms