piercing tone
Ear-splitting note
A piercing tone is sharp, high-pitched, and penetrating—the kind that cuts through other sounds and commands attention, often uncomfortably: The alarm's piercing tone woke the whole building.
The phrase suggests intensity that's hard to ignore, whether from a whistle, scream, or electronic signal.
- shrillHigh-pitched and harsh
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- ear-splittingPainfully loud
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
dog whistle · high-pitched · scream · siren · car alarm · shriek · banshee wail · cutting · strident · keening · needle · wail · harsh · ringing · penetrating · squeal · tea kettle · alarm
- high soundssoprano, high note, high pitch, shrill sound, high frequency
- timbretimbre, quality, resonance, overtones, harmonics
piercing tonesoft tone
Low, gentle sound
mellow tone · gentle tone · dulcet tones · muted tone · smooth tone
piercing tonemuted tone
hushed tone · whisper · murmur · soft-spoken · barely audible
pierce, pierced, piercer, piercers, pierces, piercing, piercingly, tone, toned