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
Relevance
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
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
The local Jaba River still runs a shrill, toxic blue, and some locals have to walk hours for fresh water.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
Sonically, Levi’s first film is equal parts shrill and echoey.
—Samantha Hissong, Rolling Stone, 7 July 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
The shrill blast of the whistle signaled their departure, and the locomotive strained to pull away from the station, making the carriage jolt.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
The local Jaba River still runs a shrill, toxic blue, and some locals have to walk hours for fresh water.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
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
Sonically, Levi’s first film is equal parts shrill and echoey.
—Samantha Hissong, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2021
See all Example Sentences for shrill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrill
Verb
-
Our ears are still ringing from watching fans become shrieking banshees upon realizing that one of her professional dancers was actually the NFL star.Lauren Huff, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Advertisement There are paintings, dolls and ceramic figures, each with its own expression — smiling, laughing, smirking, weeping or silently shrieking.Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
This has been happening throughout the Broadway run, with screams during the balcony scene and audible reactions to the line readings.Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2024
-
The screams eventually reach a crescendo, as video shows the shrieks getting gradually louder and louder until the group stopped.Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Any coffee lover will squeal when opening a box of Flur glassware.Andrew Watman, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024
-
The audience squealed; Timberlake was Pagliacci in a chunky silver chain.Eric Webb, Austin American-Statesman, 1 June 2024
Noun
-
Phill Simon and his family were sleeping in their Glen Park home when the screech of tornado alerts going off on their phones woke them up.Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 14 Dec. 2024
-
The climax is protracted but darkly thrilling: ugly secrets spill into the open, winged monkeys screech and scatter, and Elphaba comes into full possession of her powers.Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The Juan Soto sweepstakes came to a screeching halt late Sunday night.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Taurus April 20 – May 20 Speeding through life might be setting you up for a screeching halt.Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
There’s no dialogue, at least none decipherable to human ears — everything is a symphony of meows, woofs, squawks, grunts, squeaks, squeals and simian cries.David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Ride quality, wind noise suppression and the complete lack of rattles and squeaks is downright surreal, giving this Mustang...well, exactly what Revology claims — a classic look wrapped around a modern driving experience.Karl Brauer, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Briscoe Hay punctuates her sing-speak delivery with primal yelps, yips and yells atop Stanton’s bustling bass and NeSmith’s off-kilter but hooky surf guitar.Steven Wine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2024
-
Their picturesque settler life needs a dog to be complete, and Old Yeller — so named for his distinctive yelp — proves himself by protecting sons Travis and Arliss from a rogue bear.Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shrill
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share