A shrill sound is a high-pitched, piercing noise that can be heard from a distance. The term can be used to describe the sound of a whistle, a scream, or a screech. In crossword puzzles, three words that can be used to describe a shrill sound are screak (6 letters), SCRAPE (6 letters), and SHRIEK (6 letters). Screak is a sharp, harsh sound, like that of a rusty hinge. SCRAPE is a grating sound, like that of metal scraping against metal. SHRIEK is a loud, piercing cry, often associated with fear or pain.