How Do You Spell SHRILLEST?

Pronunciation: [ʃɹˈɪləst] (IPA)

The word "shrillest" is spelled with two 'l's' and two 'e's' because it is derived from the base word 'shrill' which has the consonant cluster /ll/ and a short vowel sound /ɪ/. When adding the suffix '-est,' the second 'l' is doubled to maintain the pronunciation of /ll/, and the last 'e' is added to indicate the long vowel sound /i:/ in order to keep the stress on the first syllable as /ʃrɪl-/. Therefore, the IPA transcription of the word is /ˈʃrɪl.ɛst/.

SHRILLEST Meaning and Definition

1. The adjective "shrillest" refers to the highest, most piercing, and obnoxious level of sound, voice, or tone. It is typically used to describe a sound that is harsh, strident, or intense in its high-pitched quality. When something is described as the "shrillest," it implies that it emits a sound that is particularly grating or irritating to the ear.

   The term is often used to describe a person's voice or a sound that is loud, piercing, and unpleasantly sharp. It suggests a high level of loudness and intensity, with a tone that can be jarring or distressing to the listener. The shrillest sounds may be sharp and penetrative, causing discomfort or annoyance due to their piercing quality.

   In a figurative sense, "shrillest" can also be used to describe a person's behavior or opinion that is overly strident, loud, and forceful. It may imply that this behavior or opinion is excessively strong, extreme, or pushy in a way that is off-putting or overwhelmingly dominating. In this sense, the term conveys a negative connotation, suggesting an unpleasant and irritating presence or impact.

   Overall, "shrillest" is a term used to emphasize the intensity, high pitch, and often unwelcome quality of a sound, voice, tone, behavior, or opinion.

Common Misspellings for SHRILLEST

• shrublese
• Thrillent
• shryllet
• shrillies
• Sibillest

Etymology of SHRILLEST

The word "shrillest" is derived from the adjective "shrill", which can be traced back to the Middle English word "shrillen" or "schryllen". This Middle English term is believed to be an onomatopoeic word, mimicking the high-pitched sound or quality that the word seeks to convey. Over time, "shrill" has been used to describe loud, piercing, or high-pitched sounds or voices. The suffix "-est" is added to form the superlative degree of the adjective, giving us "shrillest", meaning the most high-pitched or piercing.