Definition of obstreperousnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word obstreperous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of obstreperous are blatant, boisterous, clamorous, strident, and vociferous. While all these words mean "so loud or insistent as to compel attention," obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint.

the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested

Where would blatant be a reasonable alternative to obstreperous?

The words blatant and obstreperous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness.

blatant rock music
a blatant clamor for impeachment

When can boisterous be used instead of obstreperous?

The words boisterous and obstreperous can be used in similar contexts, but boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits.

a boisterous crowd of party goers

When is clamorous a more appropriate choice than obstreperous?

The meanings of clamorous and obstreperous largely overlap; however, clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting.

clamorous demands for prison reforms

When might strident be a better fit than obstreperous?

In some situations, the words strident and obstreperous are roughly equivalent. However, strident suggests harsh and discordant noise.

heard the strident cry of the crow

In what contexts can vociferous take the place of obstreperous?

The synonyms vociferous and obstreperous are sometimes interchangeable, but vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.

vociferous cries of protest and outrage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obstreperous And when intelligence confirms that one of their vessels is engaged in armed smuggling operations, the president need not convene an obstreperous congressional committee before acting in such a manner to defend the American people. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025 All at once, Vance had made an obstreperous return to the center of the national stage—and so did the memes. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2025 In some ways, Paul has been less obstreperous than them. Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025 In those days, even small neighborhood theaters employed uniformed ushers to guide latecomers to their seats with a flashlight, patrol the aisles, and handle obstreperous customers. Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for obstreperous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obstreperous
Adjective
  • Then there’s reality TV star Spencer Pratt, an outspoken Bass critic, who launched a campaign rooted in his fury over the city’s handling of the fire — and the loss of his family’s home in the flames.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The outspoken auteur, considered one of Iranian cinema’s greatest living masters, is still in the crosshairs of the government known as the Islamic Republic of Iran.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery was the law in the rebellious states.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
  • This wretched regime is doomed to be overthrown by the risen populace and rebellious youth.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The responses in Bug are very vocal and that is a lot of fun.
    Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Hopefuls are judged on musical performance, song choice, vocal abilities, costuming, crowd appeal and authenticity in portraying the real-life Gold Rush character Klondike Kate.
    Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Two men are targeted by the rebel army who overthrew the government of Colonel Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
  • He was denounced by rebel propagandists as a tyrant and remembered by Americans as a reactionary dolt.
    Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Two sides in European competition, Nottingham Forest, buoyed by Sean Dyche’s arrival and a vociferous City Ground, and a rapidly improving Aston Villa, come first.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Hamas officials later said the spectacle, along with Trump’s earlier vociferous enforcement of a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, encouraged them to trust his vows that the peace pact would be enforced.
    Karl Vick, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Vice President Delcy Rodriguez initially was angry and defiant.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Venezuela’s interim leader, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has alternated between taking a conciliatory approach towards Washington and striking a defiant tone.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Bartz was struck by the boldness of the theft, noting that internal communications from Anthropic showed blatant awareness of the piracy.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Tragically, Putin’s blatant disregard for international law when invading and annexing Ukraine in 2022 is frequently compared to the American invasion of Iraq.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • That tone—of pain, of surprise, of a stubborn refusal to be reduced or diminished—is everywhere in it.
    Questlove, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
  • If the stain is stubborn, add a few drops of dish soap to the water and vinegar mixture.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obstreperous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obstreperous. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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