SHRILLNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does shrillness mean? 

• SHRILLNESS (noun)
  The noun SHRILLNESS has 2 senses:

1. the quality of being sharp or harsh to the senses

2. having the timbre of a loud high-pitched sound

  Familiarity information: SHRILLNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHRILLNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being sharp or harsh to the senses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the shrillness of her hair color

Hypernyms ("shrillness" is a kind of...):

interest; interestingness (the power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.))

Derivation:

shrill (of colors that are bright and gaudy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having the timbre of a loud high-pitched sound

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

shrillness; stridence; stridency

Hypernyms ("shrillness" is a kind of...):

quality; timber; timbre; tone ((music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound))

Derivation:

shrill (having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones)

 Context examples 

A second cry arose, piercing the silence with needle-like shrillness.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

All at once we heard the crow of a cock coming up with preternatural shrillness through the clear morning air; Count Dracula, jumping to his feet, said:—Why, there is the morning again!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)