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
Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
He’s gone up higher for other roles before, like his shrill turn as a rotten southern preacher in The Devil All the Time and his sassy French accent in The King.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 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
There are many reasons to visit New Orleans, from po' boys filled with heaps of fried shrimp spilling out of pillowy soft French bread, the shrill trills of brass trumpets, and the constant bustle of revelers across the city.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
He’s gone up higher for other roles before, like his shrill turn as a rotten southern preacher in The Devil All the Time and his sassy French accent in The King.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 13 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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His ability to be believable as both a laconic grump and a hysterically shrieking interrogator helps add some emotional grounding to Havoc, which otherwise indulges in Evans’s more-is-more-is-more ideology.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
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Dawn fights off the ghost, bleeding and shrieking into the void, pouring her heart into the battle.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Travelers in the next room heard her screams and called hotel staff, who then called police.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
1 May 2025
-
As his kids play around him, their playful shrieks blend with the screams and explosions of war.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Although it can be characterized by a ringing, pulsing, buzzing, hissing or squealing sound, audiologists say the source of the condition lies in the brain's neural networks.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The couple squealed and giggled in the fitting room.—
Sadiba Hasan,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But their magnum opus was 1978’s Dub Housing, where Thomas shows off his collection of animal noises, grunts, yelps, and screeches, up to his neck in industrial synth-and-guitar factory noise.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
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His grandson toddled over, climbed into his lap, accepted a kiss with a screech of delight, and scooted off again.—
Ben Ehrenreich,
Harpers Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When the 2020 pandemic brought the restaurant industry to a screeching halt, Hart and his team pivoted hard.—
Xandra Harbet,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
In any case, the great Florida land rush came to a screeching halt in 1926.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And studies have shown that mice carrying human FOXP2 genes also make strange squeaks.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Juliana is one of those people who express positive emotions with a high-pitched squeak.—
Ali Barthwell,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 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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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
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But their magnum opus was 1978’s Dub Housing, where Thomas shows off his collection of animal noises, grunts, yelps, and screeches, up to his neck in industrial synth-and-guitar factory noise.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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