a high-pitched and piercing sound or voice, having or emitting a sharp, high-pitched tone or sound

shrill as a banshee, shrill and clear, shrill call

shrill tone, shrill whistle, shrill cry

Formal and Informal Expressions of shrill

In different contexts, you can replace 'shrill' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'high-pitched, piercing' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'squeaky, screechy' is a commonplace synonym.

shrill: Explore its Definition & Usage

shrill Definition

1a high-pitched and piercing sound or voice
2having or emitting a sharp, high-pitched tone or sound

Using shrill: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "shrill" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The shrill of the alarm woke me up.
Example
She spoke in a shrill voice that grated on my nerves.
Example
The shrill whistle of the tea kettle signaled that the water was boiling.
Example
The shrill cry of the seagulls echoed across the harbor.

shrill Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for shrill

piercing
squeaky
screeching
high-pitched
ear-piercing

Antonyms for shrill

deep
mellow
low-pitched

Idioms Using shrill

shrill as a banshee
very loud and high-pitched, typically used to describe a person's voice
Example
She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice as shrill as a banshee.
shrill and clear
loud and distinct, typically used to describe a sound or voice
Example
The singer's voice was shrill and clear, filling the auditorium with her powerful vocals.
shrill call
a loud, high-pitched sound made by a bird or animal, typically used to communicate with others of its kind
Example
The shrill call of the peacock could be heard throughout the forest.

Phrases with shrill

shrill tone
a tone of voice that is high-pitched and unpleasant to listen to
Example
Her shrill tone made it hard for me to concentrate on what she was saying.
shrill whistle
a loud, high-pitched sound made by blowing air through a whistle
Example
The referee blew his shrill whistle to signal the end of the game.
shrill cry
a loud, high-pitched sound made by an animal or bird
Example
The shrill cry of the eagle could be heard from miles away.

Origins of shrill

from Old English 'scralletan', meaning 'to sound loudly'

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Summary: shrill in Brief

'Shrill' [ʃrɪl] describes a high-pitched and piercing sound or voice. It can be used to describe a variety of sounds, from alarms to animal cries, and is often associated with unpleasantness or irritation. Examples include 'The shrill of the alarm woke me up.' and 'She spoke in a shrill voice that grated on my nerves.' Idioms like 'shrill as a banshee' and 'shrill call' extend the term's usage.