shrill
/ʃɹɪl/
Group 28Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- High-pitched and piercing; sharp or strident in character GRE
Example in Context
The shrill tone of the political advertising alienated moderate voters who found the attack-based messaging offensive and counterproductive.
Synonyms
piercinghigh-pitchedsharp
Etymology
Originates from a word meaning high-pitched sound.
- shrill (Old English) — high-pitched
Memory Aid
🔊Sounds like “shrill like a drill”
A tiny drill with a megaphone SHOUTING 'I’m SHRILL like a DRILL!' at all the unsuspecting neighbors!
Visual Association
🎤A small drill on stage with a microphone, producing an ear-piercing sound that sends everyone covering their ears.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “shrill” mean on the GRE?
shrill (adjective) means “High-pitched and piercing; sharp or strident in character”. The shrill tone of the political advertising alienated moderate voters who found the attack-based messaging offensive and counterproductive.
How to remember “shrill” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “shrill” sounds like “shrill like a drill”. A tiny drill with a megaphone SHOUTING 'I’m SHRILL like a DRILL!' at all the unsuspecting neighbors!
What are synonyms for “shrill”?
Common synonyms: piercing, high-pitched, sharp.