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
Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 9 June 2022
Each of the four movements Thursday traced a giant decrescendo, coming on strong with cacophonous, often shrill music and slowly ebbing away in a dazzling variety of textures and colors, all of them sparse and serene.
—Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 7 Jan. 2022
George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Hazlitt, 20 Dec. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Verb
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
Each of the four movements Thursday traced a giant decrescendo, coming on strong with cacophonous, often shrill music and slowly ebbing away in a dazzling variety of textures and colors, all of them sparse and serene.
—Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 7 Jan. 2022
Adjective
In turn, the tone has changed around Newcastle these past few days; less shrill, less edgy, less perilous.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
There has never been—knock on all wood—a bite, not even when that territorial shih tzu on Fawn Street broke away from its owner and chased us off the block with a shrill, honestly quite aggressive, warning.
—Hazlitt, 20 Dec. 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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Pulido told the crowd, before scratching his signature onto the brim and handing it to Jimena, who pumped it in the air and shrieked with joy.—
Jesús Rodríguez,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Bob Baker Marionettes knew their audience very well — the crowd shrieked along to the chorus.—
Rebecca Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Fans have long gravitated toward Swift's dramatic, scream-worthy bridges.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This isn’t a scream from some hound of love (though dogs do bark on the recording).—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The adults settle into seats facing each other while children from different families run behind them, squealing, playing, crying.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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Visceral sounds of gyaaaaaaa (ギャアアアアア) convey squealing tires, while turbo blow-off valves let out a sweet doa (ドア).—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Native to North America, eastern screech-owls are mostly gray, reddish-brown or brown with yellow eyes, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The violent impact was partially captured on a home security camera belonging to Carlos Tapanes, who said the sound of screeching tires echoed outside his home moments before the crash.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Male peafowl, called peacocks, are known for their screeching calls and plumage, including a long train of feathers that’s displayed during courtship rituals.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The only sound coming from the Dodger Stadium visitors’ clubhouse Wednesday night was the squeak of a laundry cart.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Over time, pig squeak forms dense clumps without becoming invasive.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Female eagles often repeat a solitary soft but high-pitched note.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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Noise colors can be high-pitched (rapidly vibrating) sounds, low-pitched (slowly vibrating) sounds, or a combination.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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My next yelp was greeted with dead silence.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
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The yelps and chatter of a nursery school recess clattered down from a small hill overlooking the scene.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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