noun
definition
A shrill sound.
verb
definition
To make a shrill noise.
adjective
definition
High-pitched and piercing.
example
The woods rang with shrill cries of the birds.
definition
Having a shrill voice.
definition
Sharp or keen to the senses.
definition
(especially of a complaint or demand) Fierce, loud, strident.
Examples of shrill in a Sentence
Who gave orders? he said in his shrill, harsh voice.
Alarm calls are in the form of a shrill whistle.
If alarmed they utter a shrill loud whistle, and rush down the burrow, but reappear after a few minutes to see if the danger is past.
Even the kitten gave a dreadfully shrill scream and at the same time Jim the cab-horse neighed loudly.
Here, by the very corner of my field, still nearer to town, Zilpha, a colored woman, had her little house, where she spun linen for the townsfolk, making the Walden Woods ring with her shrill singing, for she had a loud and notable voice.
Fred's answer came just as the music switched to a shrill voice pleading for her lover to come back to the hills.
To walk in a winter morning in a wood where these birds abounded, their native woods, and hear the wild cockerels crow on the trees, clear and shrill for miles over the resounding earth, drowning the feebler notes of other birds--think of it!
She did want to use the bags first, and if Jackson hadn't been in this state, he would be getting a shrill earful for feeding from the bottles.
A popular name with Indian sportsmen is "barking deer," on account of the alarm-cry - a kind of short shrill bark, like that of a fox, but louder.
This peculiar little inhabitant of the steppes and desert regions of Turkestan and Persia, by rubbing the imbricating scales upon each other, produces a shrill cricket-like noise, whilst sitting at night in front of its hole in the ground.
The unearthly shrill of the telephone shattered the scene, once, twice, three times before Dean clawed at the instrument and grumbled something.
The herd never feeds without having a sentinel posted on some prominence to give notice of the approach of danger; which is done by stamping on the ground with the forefeet, and uttering a shrill whistling note, thus putting the entire herd on the alert.
It is nearly always seen paired, though the pairs collect in prodigious flocks; and, when these are broken up, its shrill but musical cry of "tu-lup," "tu-lup," somewhat pettishly repeated, helps to draw attention to it.
They will also have to take great pains not to sound shrill.
Males of the little water-bugs of the genus Corixa make a shrill chirping note by drawing a row of teeth on the flattened fore-foot across a group of spines on the haunch of the opposite leg.
In three carriages involved among the munition carts, closely squeezed together, sat women with rouged faces, dressed in glaring colors, who were shouting something in shrill voices.
Disturbed from the moor or marsh, where it has its nest, it rises swiftly into the air, conspicuous by its white back and rump, and uttering shrill cries flies round the intruder.
In Russia, the aristocracy became increasingly shrill in its complaints to Tsar Alexander, that the Continental System was damaging Russian agricultural exports.
But here was a fairy forest with black moving shadows, and a glitter of diamonds and a flight of marble steps and the silver roofs of fairy buildings and the shrill yells of some animals.
Fine teachers! and again his voice grew shrill.
How does God above look at them and hear them? exclaimed Prince Andrew in a shrill, piercing voice.
Ansem 's scream was n't human, it was too high, and to Sora it was more like a shrill screech.
There is no sound so shrill, so pure and as urgent as a baby 's cry for nourishment.
You simply press a panic button and they shrill loudly.
The fife is a shrill instrument and could be heard even above the roaring cannons.
He had prepared to distinguish himself as an orator by the elaborate cultivation of his voice, which was naturally harsh and shrill.
Then there were voices, Gladys with a shrill laugh, than hushed giggling, a stumble on the steps, a grunt and finally silence.
With that, the referee brings proceedings to a close with three shrill blasts on his shiny whistle and Chelsea take the three points.
Contents Winter Clouded with snow The bleak winds blow, And shrill on leafless bough The robin with its burning breast Alone sings now.
They took each other by the hand, And danced a stately saraband; Their laughter echoed thin and shrill.
Ansem's scream wasn't human, it was too high, and to Sora it was more like a shrill screech.
Once you get used to the rather shrill deep south accent of Maggie, the play becomes easier to follow.
Actually he leaves most things to Mom and now the word lazy floats up to me as her voice grows more shrill.
The referee draws proceedings to a close with three shrill blasts on his whistle, prompting raucous celebrations from the Barcelona players.
The name comes from a typical cough which starts with a deep inhalation, followed by a series of quick, short coughs that continues until the air is expelled from the lungs, and ends with a long shrill, whooping inhalation.
Such critics usually have little to offer as a clarion call beyond the shrill cry for evermore unbridled liberty.
There is no sound so shrill, so pure and as urgent as a baby's cry for nourishment.
Young hedgehogs will make a very shrill, loud, call if they are in distress.
The combination of Bom-Bane's sweet, slightly shrill soprano and Pynn's undulating strings gives each musical riddle an unearthly quality.
Thus, Muhammad's tone and language against Christianity (and Judaism) become shrill.
This earthquake tremor sent a warning shrill to torpid parts of me which trusted - still.
The whippers-in no longer set on the hounds, but changed to the cry of ulyulyu, and above the others rose Daniel's voice, now a deep bass, now piercingly shrill.
The shrill of the final whistle signaled Cambridge 's third successive Varsity defeat.
A shrill monotone scream, which is often uttered by tight flocks flying round buildings at roof-top height.
With a shrill cry of anger a man rose from a reclining chair beside the fire.
Her mobile rang, its shrill tone cutting through the air, making her jump.
The combination of Bom-Bane 's sweet, slightly shrill soprano and Pynn 's undulating strings gives each musical riddle an unearthly quality.
I could even forgive the one lady whose shrill, warbling voice almost drowned out the other twenty five there.
In addition to various sounds produced at other times, an elephant when about to charge gives vent to a shrill loud 'trumpet'.
Thus in the Sandwich Islands the god Oro gave his oracles through a priest who "ceased to act or speak as a voluntary agent, but with his limbs convulsed, his features distorted and terrific, his eyes wild and strained, he would roll on the ground roaming at the mouth, and reveal the will of the god in shrill cries and sounds violent and indistinct, which the attending priests duly interpreted to the people."