Word forms: comparative shriller, superlative shrillest, 3rd person singular presenttense shrills, present participle shrilling, past tense, past participle shrilled
1. adjective
A shrill sound is high-pitched and unpleasant.
Shrill cries and startled oaths flew up around us as pandemonium broke out.
...the shrill whistle of the engine.
Mary Ann's voice grew shrill.
Synonyms: piercing, high, sharp, acute More Synonyms of shrill
shrillyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
'What are you doing?' she demanded shrilly.
shrillnessuncountable noun
...that shrillness in his voice.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe a demand, protest, or statement as shrill, you disapprove of it and do not like the strong, forceful way it is said.
[disapproval]
Shrill voices on both sides of the Atlantic are advocating protectionism.
3. verb
If a bell or whistle shrills, it makes a loud, high-pitched sound.
[written]
The phone shrilled, making her jump. [VERB]
Synonyms: ring, buzz, trill More Synonyms of shrill
4. verb
If someone with a high-pitched voice shrills something, they say it loudly.
[written]
'No, no, no,' she shrilled. [VERB with quote]
shrill in British English
(ʃrɪl)
adjective
1.
sharp and high-pitched in quality
2.
emitting a sharp high-pitched sound
verb
3.
to utter (words, sounds, etc) in a shrill tone
4. (transitive) rare
to cause to produce a shrill sound
Derived forms
shrillness (ˈshrillness)
noun
shrilly (ˈshrilly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: probably from Old English scralletan; related to German schrill shrill, Dutch schrallen to shriek
shrill in American English
(ʃrɪl)
adjective
1.
having or producing a high, thin, piercing tone; high-pitched
2.
characterized or accompanied by shrill sounds
3.
unrestrained and irritatingly insistent
4. Archaic
keen; sharp; biting; poignant
adverb
5. Rare
in a shrill manner
verb intransitive
6.
to make a shrill noise or sound
verb transitive
7.
to utter shrilly
Derived forms
shrilly (ˈshrilly)
adverb
shrillness (ˈshrillness)
noun
Word origin
ME shrille, akin to LowG schrell, Ger schrill: echoic, prob. akin to shriek
Examples of 'shrill' in a sentence
shrill
It sounded shrill and shrill has always been the death of us.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But there is something shrill and disappointing about the lazy criticisms that persist.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This will not only raise shrill demands for regulation and subsidy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The shrill voices in the stands seemed to suggest he had.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His party was unable to broaden its appeal because it sounded too shrill.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Expect some shrill recorded sound and lacklustre orchestral playing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Before the sharp shrill sound there was a beautiful mix of anticipation and security.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Her voice was shrill and tight.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Anna Maria was still arguing in shrill tones.
Beatrix Potter The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1930)
You couldn't drive down the road without incurring their shrill warning cry.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When the disciples do answer, their voices are shrill and defensive.
Christianity Today (2000)
Only the public's expectations have made those claims sound shrill.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And in that shrill voice of his, he would begin singing a song he had just written.
Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me
A shrill cry echoes through the conference room.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A hellish din of clattering tableware and shrill voices exchanging loud opinions and boring stories.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I thought he was pulling my leg but he was shaking with fear and speaking in a shrill voice.
The Sun (2008)
He sounded shrill and petulant.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She has woven a commitment to women's rights into speeches in parts of the world uninterested in that concept without sounding shrill.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The grandfather stood under the door, watching her, when suddenly a shrill whistle was heard.