Shrilly

Shrilly is an adverb that describes something spoken or uttered in a high-pitched, piercing, and often unpleasant tone. It suggests a sharp, thin sound that can be jarring or irritating to the listener. The sound often evokes a sense of agitation, anger, fear, or excitement, and can be used to describe human voices or the sounds of certain objects. When used to describe a voice, it usually indicates a lack of control or modulation and may suggest a strained or stressed vocal delivery. It frequently appears in descriptive writing to create a vivid image of sound.

Shrilly meaning with examples

• The toddler, frustrated by the broken toy, began to cry shrilly, her voice cutting through the afternoon quiet. Her parents, realizing she was not in danger, started to comfort her while deciding what to replace the toy with.
• The old door creaked shrilly as the wind whipped around the house, warning of the approaching storm. The family, who heard the cry of the door, gathered around the fireplace, the storm still seeming far away, the sound of the door being distant.
• The referee's whistle blew shrilly, stopping the game in its tracks after a player's illegal move. Both teams then began to argue, the call dividing them. The coaches worked to control their players while discussing the play.
• The warning siren wailed shrilly across the deserted streets, alerting residents to the impending danger. In this moment, the citizens rushed inside in fear, looking for protection and wishing that the alarm would stop.
• Her voice, usually soft, rose shrilly with indignation as she confronted the person who had stolen her car. The man became flustered, and she began to question him about his misdeed, demanding he return what was rightfully hers.