high-pitched sound
Ear-piercing tone
A high-pitched sound has a frequency toward the upper end of the audible range—shrill, piercing, or thin rather than deep or resonant.
A whistle, a squeal, a soprano voice, or a mosquito's whine are all high-pitched sounds.
The term often implies something unpleasant or difficult to ignore: The high-pitched sound of the smoke alarm woke everyone.
- shrillHigh-pitched and harsh
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- squealShrill, piercing cry
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
dog whistle · squeak · shriek · treble · soprano · screaming · baby crying · earsplitting · tinny · sharp · wail · yelp · siren · car alarm · smoke alarm · alarm · cricket · birdsong