strident

adjective stri·dent \ ˈstrī-dᵊnt \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

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Examples: strident in a Sentence

Definition of strident

: characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound

a strident voice

; also : commanding attention by a loud or obtrusive quality

strident slogans

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stridently

adverb

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Examples of strident in a Sentence

The strident tone in his voice revealed his anger.

Recent Examples of strident from the Web

Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard law professor, was again strident in his criticisms of Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump administration and Russian interference in the 2016 election.

— kenneth singletary, BostonGlobe.com, "Dershowitz again goes on the attack against Mueller investigation," 20 May 2018
Among them is Nigel Farage, a strident crusader against the European Union.

— matthew rosenberg, New York Times, "In Brexit, Trump Finds a British Reflection of His Own Political Rise," 13 July 2018
The comments appear to have mollified investors and others who opposed Lopez Obrador’s candidacy and were wary of his sometimes-strident populist rhetoric.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, latimes.com, "Mexico's Lopez Obrador taps longtime loyalist as nominee for top diplomat and invites Trump to inauguration," 6 July 2018
The man who authored the majority opinion, over strident dissents from the Thomas-Roberts-Alito triumvirate?

— jay willis, GQ, "The Trump Administration Is Hell-Bent on Ending Affirmative Action," 3 July 2018
Meanwhile, members of the National Co-ordinator of Education Workers (CNTE), a strident teachers’ union, took to the streets.

— The Economist, "Mexico’s crucial education reform risks being unwound," 31 May 2018
Thus the strident threats and criticisms are mostly out.

— howard lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, "Is Trump finding 'America First' incompatible with 'America alone'?," 30 Mar. 2018
Their political tirades are written in a strident, journalistic tone, fissures where narrative conceit drops out completely.

— alice bolin, Longreads, "The Daughter as Detective," 26 June 2018
In the book, June recalls being embarrassed by her mother’s brand of strident, second wave feminism, and took that generation’s advances for granted.

— rena gross, Billboard, "'The Handmaid's Tale': Season 2, Episode 3 Recap – 9 Heavy Moments From 'Baggage'," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strident.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of strident

Latin strident-, stridens, present participle of stridere, stridēre to make a harsh noise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1656

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of strident

loud, stentorian, earsplitting, raucous, strident mean marked by intensity or volume of sound. loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

- loud shouts of protest

stentorian implies great power and range.

- an actor with a stentorian voice

earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.

- the earsplitting sound of a siren

raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.

- the raucous shouts of drunken revelers

strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.

- the strident voices of hecklers

vociferous, clamorous, blatant, strident, boisterous, obstreperous mean so loud or insistent as to compel attention. vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.