shrill sound
High-pitched auditory assault
A shrill sound is high-pitched and piercing, often unpleasantly so: the shrill sound of a whistle, a shrill sound cut through the noise.
The phrase describes sounds that are sharp enough to command attention or cause discomfort—alarms, screams, certain bird calls.
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- shriekShrill, piercing cry
- high pitchedElevated in frequency
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
dog whistle · squeal · high-pitched · scream · banshee wail · ear-splitting · screaming · wail · squeak · harsh · strident · grating · siren · smoke alarm · kettle · tea kettle · alarm · fingernails
- high soundssoprano, high note, high pitch, piercing tone, high frequency
acoustic quality/pleasantness
shrill sounddulcet tones
Sweet, pleasing sounds
soft tone · mellifluous · muted tone · lullaby · purr
shrill, shrilly, shrillness, sound, sounds, sounded, sounding, soundly, soundless