Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

shrill

1 adjective
     
Related topics: Textures, Sounds
shrill1
1CS a shrill sound is very high and unpleasant:
'That's not true,' she protested in a shrill voice.
a shrill whistle
Fran uttered a shrill scream.
2 shrill complaints, criticism, demands etc are too loud or strong and seem unreasonable:
He hated the shrill demands of the children.
—shrillness noun [uncountable]
—shrilly adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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