Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; said of a sound, or of that which produces a sound
A shrill sound is high-pitched and unpleasant. Shrill cries and startled oaths flew up around us as pandemonium broke out Mary Ann's voice grew shrill. = piercing + shrilly shril·ly `What are you doing?' she demanded shrilly. + shrillness shrill·ness that ugly shrillness in her voice
disapproval If you describe a demand, protest, or statement as shrill, you disapprove of it and do not like the strong, forceful way it is said. Shrill voices on both sides of the Atlantic are advocating protectionism