boisterous

1 of 2

adjective

bois·​ter·​ous ˈbȯi-st(ə-)rəs 

1

a

: noisily turbulent : rowdy

b

: marked by or expressive of exuberance and high spirits

2

: stormy, tumultuous

3

obsolete

a

: coarse

b

: durable, strong

c

: massive

boisterously adverb

boisterousness noun

boisterousness

2 of 2

noun

bois·​ter·​ous·​ness

ˈbȯi-st(ə-)rəs-nəs

plural -es

: the quality or state of being boisterous

Synonyms of boisterous

Adjective

• raucous
• rowdy
• rambunctious
• lively
• rumbustious
• noisy
• rollicking
• violent
• robustious

Choose the Right Synonym for boisterous

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

Examples of boisterous in a Sentence

Adjective

The crowd was young and boisterous, the cheeseburgers were juicy and perfectly charred, and the place was always packed. —Jonathan Black, Saveur, October 2007

Things had apparently gotten a little too boisterous during the Northern Ohio Girls Soccer League games. And it wasn't the kids. Fed up with noisy, know-it-all parents, the league banned cheering and jeering from the sidelines for one game, which they dubbed Silent Sunday. —Kate Rounds, Ms., December 1999/January 2000

Suzanne Massie, boisterous and voluble as we drove through her adopted neighborhood in St. Petersburg, hurtled to a sudden stop. She was laughing uproariously to see the spot, where five years earlier, her rented car had fallen apart … —Christopher Lydon, Atlantic, February 1993

A large and boisterous crowd attended the concert.

the fans at the baseball game became particularly boisterous after the home run

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There were many business, political and corporate VIPs on hand, including Aurora Mayor John Laesch, who did not speak at the event but stood quietly in the crowd, listening and taking pictures of the glitzy surroundings and boisterous activities. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

But Curls Ultra aren’t solely interested in resurrecting the mysticism of the past or indulging in the parties of the present, the occasional fluttering flute solo or boisterous sax line notwithstanding. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 26 June 2026

Now, Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max brings back the fun of the original Tickle Me Elmo, but with a bigger size and more ways to activate Elmo's boisterous laughter. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Some use to it describe the most boisterous group of antagonistic influencers. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English boistous crude, clumsy, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Kids Definition

boisterous

adjective

bois·​ter·​ous ˈbȯi-st(ə-)rəs 

1

a

: noisily rough : rowdy

a boisterous crowd

b

: marked by high spirits

boisterous laughter

2

: vigorously active : stormy

boisterously adverb

boisterousness noun