Definition

The quality or state of having a high-pitched and piercing sound.

Example

The shrillness of the alarm made it hard to concentrate.

Conversation

Did you notice the shrillness in her voice during the meeting?

Yeah, it was hard to focus with all that noise.

I thought it might just be me, but it really was distracting.

Totally! It made it tough to catch what she was saying.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Shrillness → It is formed from "shrill" (from Old English *scryllan*, meaning to cry out or scream) and "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "shrillness" refers to the quality of being shrill, or having a high-pitched, piercing sound.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'shrill' which describes a high-pitched sound, and remember that 'shrillness' means the quality of having that sharp sound.

Visually Confused Words