vociferous

adjective

vo·​cif·​er·​ous vō-ˈsi-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce vociferous (audio)
: 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."

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 After an hourslong debate, the Kentucky House of Representatives Thursday passed several key budget bills that will govern how the state spends more than $130 billion despite vociferous opposition from Democrats. The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2024 The president has signaled a willingness to agree to most Republican demands, though the prospects for a deal diminished last week after Mr. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, expressed vociferous opposition to the terms. Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024 Pope Francis is facing some of the most vociferous objection to papal authority in decades, in language that might have stunned past popes. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024 A number of European countries that have been vociferous in calling for a cease-fire sought to strike a balance Monday between supporting Israel’s effort to defeat Hamas and maintaining pressure on Israel to curb civilian suffering. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2023 Two of the most vociferous critics, Christopher Hitchens and William Shawcross, branded Dr. Kissinger a war criminal. Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023 Indeed, last night’s ceremony — the awards for books vociferous in their condemnation of oppression, and the calls for freedom, human dignity, and lasting peace for all — served as a reminder that literature is inextricable from the cause of humanity. Julie Kosin, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2023 Some of the most vociferous criticism came from Sherre Gilbert, sister of Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance led to the discovery of other corpses on Gilgo Beach. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023 His most vociferous opponents labeled him a war criminal. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vociferous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vociferous was in 1700

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Dictionary Entries Near vociferous

Cite this Entry

“Vociferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vociferous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vociferous

adjective
vo·​cif·​er·​ous vō-ˈsif-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce vociferous (audio)
: making a loud outcry : noisy, clamorous
vociferously adverb

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