vociferous

adjective

vo·​cif·​er·​ous vō-ˈsi-f(ə-)rəs 

: marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry

vociferously adverb

vociferousness noun

Did you know?

Hear ye! Hear ye! To vociferate is "to cry out loudly" so it’s perhaps unsurprising that the adjective vociferous is used to describe those who are loud and proud, who show their support or displeasure for something or someone by hootin' and hollerin'. Both vociferate and vociferous come from the Latin vociferari, a combining of vox, meaning "voice," with ferre, meaning "to carry." In addition to describing loud and insistent individuals and groups—critics, crowds, fans, et al.—vociferous can be used for anything characterized by loud insistence, as in "vociferous complaints," "a vociferous defense," and "vociferous support."

Synonyms

• outspoken
• vocal
• blatant
• noisy

Choose the Right Synonym for vociferous

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 vociferous in a Sentence

He is her most vociferous critic.

He was vociferous in his support of the proposal.

The decision was made over their vociferous objections.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe that's why there was such a vociferous response when a picture showcasing the remnants of this particular pizza slice was posted to Reddit by the diner under the handle u/Pancakeferret. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025

Attacks on the Fed Trump’s first six months have also been marked by vociferous and repeated attacks from the president on the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 27 July 2025

Among the most vociferous of Cuomo’s challengers is Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose social media-heavy mayoral campaign has garnered significant support from younger, left-leaning voters. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025

Enjoying an excellent day in front of a vociferous home support at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the 36-year-old found himself in a spot of bother when his tee shot at the par-four 11th curved into the rough on the right of the fairway. —Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 19 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vociferous

• auriferous
• calciferous
• coniferous
• pestiferous
• argentiferous
• carboniferous
• fossiliferous
• manganiferous
• metalliferous
• odoriferous
• seminiferous
• titaniferous

Kids Definition

vociferous

adjective

vo·​cif·​er·​ous vō-ˈsif-(ə-)rəs 

: making a loud outcry : noisy, clamorous

vociferously adverb