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
Vulture, 3 Apr. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
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
Peter Bart, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
The shrill, metallic banging noises of a jack hammer echoed around the White House on Monday as crews started removing the large, yellow Black Lives Matter mural down the street from the president's home.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Verb
Harris guest-starred on Seinfeld for 27 episodes as the shrill Estelle Costanza, opposite Jerry Stiller as George’s father, Frank Costanza.
—Vulture, 3 Apr. 2022
The shrill, yet welcome, sound of children’s laughter fills the air.
—Essence, 23 Nov. 2022
Adjective
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
Noun
As such, The Studio is shrill and talky, its chaotic scenes sparked by random performers like Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Polley, all of whom want something from Remick.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
The shrill, metallic banging noises of a jack hammer echoed around the White House on Monday as crews started removing the large, yellow Black Lives Matter mural down the street from the president's home.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrill
Verb
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Speaking of which, the movie opens like a monster movie, Knightley shrieking with uncommon volatility as her hysterical character is carted up to the institute in a carriage.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
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Berger’s tiny stage bulges like a clown car, stuffed with superb comedians such as Russell Daniels, playing a prospective son-in-law (and Grade A idiot) who shrieks around sick people, and Sarah Stiles, as a pert soubrette.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 June 2025
Noun
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The rest of the group is rendered by capable performers, but their dialogue consists of rote exposition and the occasional scream, as pterodactyls dive-bomb them and T. rexes snap in their faces.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
4 July 2025
-
Neighbors heard her screams and called for an ambulance.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
The Enquirer,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Chelsea squeals as Aubree takes in her birthday gift.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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When Ronaldo Jr went to warm up with his fellow subs behind the goal, the local kids all sprinted off in that direction and yelled and squealed ‘Cristiano’ or ‘Junior’ in the lad’s direction.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The screech of an infected is the first sign of trouble.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 May 2025
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The constant clang of metal and the screech of drills suggest the sort of work underway at a warehouse-turned-workshop in this Ukrainian city about 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Kyiv.—
Dominique Soguel,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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The Tatum injury sent Boston’s dynastic rise into a screeching halt.—
Kristian Winfield,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2025
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The running faucet of titles came to a screeching halt after the Habs won 32 years ago.—
David Close,
CNN Money,
17 June 2025
Noun
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The footage shows the beautiful black cat not with a typical meow, but with a series of gentle squeaks.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 June 2025
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George's solo culminated in a symphony of squeaks before MJ Lenderman returned to the stage for a two-song encore.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Another wrong impression involves Morrison’s voice, which seems excited and high-pitched.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2025
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The Nashville singer-songwriter waited a full day with the high-pitched, pulsing sound before calling her doctor to check her ears.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When Yuvi Agarwal began playing keyboard for a room full of dogs at the Denver Animal Shelter on Thursday, the music was hard to distinguish between the barks and yelps of his audience.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
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Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shrill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrill. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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