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🔊 High-pitched sound 🔊 To make a sharp sound 🌈 Very bright
to shrill

to shrill

3 4.8
To make a very high, sharp sound often as a cry
  • verb
  • /ʃrɪl/
translation icon : chillar
  • The rain slackened, but the shrilling wind still churned the water, and white caps rode among wobbling shore reeds.
  • voice shrilled
  • cicadas shrilled
  • siren shrilling

Examples

  • Determined to honor his friend's gift, Olivio shrilled instructions as the two men bent over the edge of the case.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • My father could've had trouble because of the shrilling wind or lost his bearings in the darkness.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Joey started shrilling questions at her: "Did you come on the train?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "As if to prove her point, the phone and the intercom start shrilling at the same minute.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The kettle began to shrill, and she snatched it off the stove to silence it.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Artoo shrilled in dismay, but Luke had no time to comfort the droid now.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "And you're not likely to get much, Jean-Baptiste Cabrillac," Eulalie shrilled, brandishing a wooden spoon like a wand.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The kettle began to shrill, signaling that the water was boiling.

  • As the argument escalated, her voice started to shrill in frustration.

  • The siren of the fire truck shrilled through the quiet neighborhood.

Synonyms

to scream
vsto shrill
∞ 1.0

To make a loud high cry because of fear or pain

is the high-pitched sound without implying strong feelings
to screech
vsto shrill
86 4.0

To make a loud, high, sharp sound that startles people

is a high-pitched sound but less focused on harshness
to squeak
vsto shrill
82 1.4

To make a short high sound when things move or rub together

is the high-pitched sound usually longer or more piercing
to shriek
vsto shrill
72 2.9

To make a loud high sound often because of fear, pain or excitement

is the high-pitched sound but not necessarily tied to emotion
to squeal
vsto shrill
61 3.0

To make a long, high sound like a pig or excited child

is the high-pitched sound but usually shorter or sharper
to pipe
vsto shrill
47 7.0

To make a high thin sound like a small bird or child

is the general piercing sound not limited to specific voices
to squall
vsto shrill
2 7.2

To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird

is the simple high-pitched cry, not restricted to living voices
to screak
vsto shrill
  • UK
9.9

To make a short, high, harsh sound like an owl or old gate

is the general high-pitched cry without extra harshness

Antonyms

to muffle
64 5.8

To make a sound or feeling quieter so it is less noticeable

to hush
33 3.4

Make a person or thing quiet so others stop making noise

How High-Pitched

screech
39 2.9
to shrill
3 4.8
to shriek
72 2.9
squeal
34 2.9
to squeak
82 1.4
to peep
2 1.5

Surface Forms

shrill infinitive
shrilled past
shrilled past participle
shrilling present participle
shrills third person singular

Etymology

Shrill as a verb comes from the same root as shriek, meaning 'to cry out' in a high, piercing way, so to shrill is to make a sharp, high-pitched cry.