shrill — having a high-pitched and piercing sound
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having a high-pitched and piercing sound
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʃrɪl/
Example Sentences
- My mom's shrill voice could wake up the entire neighborhood when she called me for dinner.
- The referee's shrill whistle stopped the heated soccer match.
- The fire alarm's shrill sound made everyone cover their ears and run.
shrill
ADJECTIVE[/ʃrɪl/]
having a high-pitched and piercing sound
having a high-pitched and piercing sound
The drill sounds shrill, then all goes still!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Shrill derives from Middle English 'shril', a word of Germanic origin that evolved from onomatopoeia imitating sharp, piercing sounds. The word developed to describe high-pitched, strident tones characteristic of acute acoustic frequencies.
Breakdown
The word is a Germanic onomatopoetic formation where the 'shr-' cluster mimics sharp sound production, with '-ill' intensifying the quality of shrillness. The doubling of the final 'l' (shril → shrill) emphasizes the piercing nature of the sound.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom's shrill voice could wake up the entire neighborhood when she called me for dinner.”
“The referee's shrill whistle stopped the heated soccer match.”
“The fire alarm's shrill sound made everyone cover their ears and run.”
“Her shrill laughter echoed through the haunted house, scaring even the ghosts.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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