adj
shrill
shrihl
adj
1
High-pitched and sharp, often unpleasantly so.
"The referee's shrill whistle cut through the noise of the crowd."
"Her voice grew shrill as the argument escalated."
verb
1
To make a shrill sound.
"The kettle shrilled on the stove."
How to Use Shrill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA high, piercing sound — often used, especially of voices, to suggest it's grating or unpleasant.
Common mistake
When applied to a person's tone or manner rather than a literal sound, "shrill" can sound dismissive or gendered — use with care.
Common pairings
shrill voice
shrill whistle
shrill cry
Word Forms
shriller comparative, shrilled past tense, shrills plural, shrills singular, shrillest superlative
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The referee's _____ whistle cut through the noise of the crowd.
Etymology
From Middle English schrille, likely of Germanic origin, probably imitative of the sound.