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
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Further down the road, another piper — just playing to play — is sending his shrill notes out into the night sky.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 5 July 2024
Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
The sudden shrill is as jarring as the sound of breaking glass and does equal damage to the video call’s momentum.
—Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
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
Like, watched it all the way through from the shrill opening filled with obnoxious kids to the leadenly staged slapstick climax?
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Further down the road, another piper — just playing to play — is sending his shrill notes out into the night sky.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 5 July 2024
Noun
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
The sudden shrill is as jarring as the sound of breaking glass and does equal damage to the video call’s momentum.
—Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for shrill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrill
Verb
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And experts say there are actually perfectly good explanations for a partner not shrieking with excitement over a pregnancy announcement.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
7 Jan. 2025
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Power stick guy, the rodeo clown guys, shrieking college girls.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
1 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Tall trees and a high concrete wall obscured the view and the screams of the camp so that Rudolf’s wife Hedwig and their five children – Klaus, Heidetraud, Brigitte, Hans-Jürgen and Annegret – could live shielded from the atrocities committed just feet from their door.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN,
17 Jan. 2025
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Berg’s depiction of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is disorienting, nightmarish and terrifyingly immersive, a bravura symphony of whizzing arrows and curdling screams.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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One day, when the cat in our local bodega poked its head out of the store, Ellie squealed like a child.—
Camille Bromley Gabra Zackman Krish Seenivasan David Mason,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2025
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So many sounds emerge, subtle things: drills, squealing, buzzing, vocal loops, along with guitar solos, shimmering guitar melodies, riffs, accents, and additional, complimentary guitar lines draped on top of each other.—
Aaron Gilbreath,
SPIN,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The jungle struck up its evening symphony: the sweet chittering of insects, the distant bellowing of monkeys, the occasional screech of a kite.—
Charlie Cordero,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2025
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But as the race against former President Trump screeches into its final week, joy has taken the back seat.—
David Lauter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The Baltimore Ravens' season came to a screeching halt in their Divisional Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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Sadly, the Ferrari’s promising racing career came to a screeching halt when French gendarmes seized the car at the Paris Orly airport parking lot—something about a dispute between Monsieur Fayen and the French tax authorities.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Sneaker squeaks were part of the in-arena chorus of sounds as were the thumps of bodies hitting the floor.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
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And on Thursday night, Ken Carter was one of about two dozen people inside a basketball gym, where the only signs a game was taking place were the squeaks of sneakers and four buzzers to signal the end of each quarter.—
Evan Webeck,
The Mercury News,
13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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These frogs live along fast-flowing streams in mountainous areas of Madagascar, and with such loud background noise, their calls may be especially high-pitched to be heard by other frogs over the sound of the water, according to Scherz.—
Olivia Ferrari,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Nov. 2024
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When Stutz spoke again, his voice was weak and high-pitched, all the vitality drained out of it.—
Lila Shapiro,
Vulture,
30 July 2024
Noun
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Don’t be that guy who runs the same series of seven yelps all morning long.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
1 May 2024
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And the merry-go-round of yelps and vocal chops at its core gleam like Christmas morning.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shrill
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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