shrillness
High-pitched harsh sound
Shrillness is the quality of being shrill—high-pitched and piercing in a way that grates on the ear.
The term applies literally to sounds: the shrillness of the alarm, the shrillness of her voice.
Figuratively, shrillness describes communication that feels strident or unpleasantly insistent: Critics noted the shrillness of the campaign's attacks.
Penetrating or very sharp
- high-pitchedHigh in frequency
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- screamLoud sharp cry
- squealShrill, piercing cry
screaming · screeching · squealing · whistling · keening · wailing · yelp · squawk
Unsparing quality or manner
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- stridencyHarsh, piercing quality
- acutenessIntensity or keenness
- penetrationEntry into something
intensity · keenness · ear-piercing · earsplitting · cutting · grating · jarring · discordance
Wailing alert device
- whistleShrill air-blown sounder
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- hornPointed animal headgear
- buzzerElectric signaling device
klaxon · alert · warning · signal · smoke detector · car alarm · emergency · screamer
Of the nose
- reedyThin and high-pitched
- thinSmall in diameter
- pinchedStole or squeezed tightly
- querulousInclined to complain
whiny · petulant · screechy · strident · rasping · squawky · grating · tinny
Hostile and confrontational
- insistentFirmly demanding attention
- demandingRequiring great effort
- stridentHarsh and piercing
- vociferousLoudly and forcefully expressive
clamorous · hysterical · overwrought · frantic · urgent · impassioned · vehement · forceful
piercing
Penetrating or very sharp
- high-pitchedHigh in frequency
- screechHigh, harsh cry
- screamLoud sharp cry
squeal · screaming · screeching · squealing · whistling · keening · wailing · yelp · squawk · caterwauling
harshness
Unsparing quality or manner
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- stridencyHarsh, piercing quality
- acutenessIntensity or keenness
penetration · intensity · keenness · ear-piercing · earsplitting · cutting · grating · jarring · discordance · dissonance
siren
Wailing alert device
buzzer · klaxon · alert · warning · signal · smoke detector · car alarm · emergency · screamer · panic
nasal
Of the nose
querulous · whiny · petulant · screechy · strident · rasping · squawky · grating · tinny · metallic
aggressive
Hostile and confrontational
vociferous · clamorous · hysterical · overwrought · frantic · urgent · impassioned · vehement · forceful · emphatic
- cacophonycacophony, discord, dissonance, din, noise
- speechspeech, speaking, talk, diction, conversation
shrillnessmellowness
Soft, relaxed quality
smoothness · softness · gentleness · richness · warmth
shrillnessquietness
Lack of sound
softness · mutedness · gentleness · faintness