First Known Use: circa 1600
Dictionary
obstreperous
adjective ob·strep·er·ous \əb-ˈstre-p(ə-)rəs, äb-\
: difficult to control and often noisy
Full Definition of OBSTREPEROUS
1
: marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous <obstreperous merriment>
2
: stubbornly resistant to control : unruly
— ob·strep·er·ous·ly adverb
— ob·strep·er·ous·ness noun
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Origin of OBSTREPEROUS
Latin obstreperus, from obstrepere to clamor against, from ob- against + strepere to make a noise
Related to OBSTREPEROUS
- Synonyms
- blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, vociferous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, yawping (or yauping), yowling
- Antonyms
- amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable
Synonym Discussion of OBSTREPEROUS
vociferous, clamorous, blatant, strident, boisterous, obstreperous mean so loud or insistent as to compel attention. vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out <vociferous cries of protest and outrage>. clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting <clamorous demands for prison reforms>. blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness <blatant rock music> <a blatant clamor for impeachment>. strident suggests harsh and discordant noise <heard the strident cry of the crow>. boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits <a boisterous crowd of party goers>. obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint <the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested>.
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