shrill
/ʃɹɪl/ adjective C2- High-pitched and piercing. · The woods rang with shrill cries of the birds.
- Having a shrill voice.
- Sharp or keen to the senses.
- Especially of a woman: fierce, loud, strident.
Comparative shriller · Superlative shrillest
From the library
“Not like cats!” cried the Mouse, in a shrill, passionate voice.
“Get up!” said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, and the three gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing to the King, the Queen, the royal children, and everybody else.
Imagine her surprise, when the White Rabbit read out, at the top of his shrill little voice, the name “Alice!”
The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried by—the frightened Mouse splashed his way through the neighbouring pool—she could hear the rattle of the teacups as the March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal, and the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate guests to execution—once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the Duchess’s knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it—once more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard’s slate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, filled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable Mock Turtle.
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