Synonyms of stentorian

stentorian

adjective

sten-ˈtȯr-ē-ən 

as in loud

marked by a high volume of sound

the professor's stentorian voice was enough to keep even the drowsiest student awake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loud
• deafening
• ringing
• shrill
• thunderous
• roaring
• sonorous
• thundering
• earsplitting
• plangent
• piercing
• clangorous
• booming
• clamorous
• noisy
• blasting
• blaring
• resounding
• slam-bang
• vociferous
• raucous
• brazen
• strident
• obstreperous
• discordant
• harsh
• rip-roaring
• squealing
• overloud
• grating
• sharp
• dinning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gentle
• low
• soft
• silent
• quiet
• dead
• still
• calm
• soothing
• serene
• peaceful
• dreamy
• tranquil
• muffled
• restful
• muted
• hushed
• ultraquiet
• stilly
• softened
• toned (down)

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stentorian contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stentorian are earsplitting, loud, raucous, and strident. While all these words mean "marked by intensity or volume of sound," stentorian implies great power and range.

an actor with a stentorian voice

When is earsplitting a more appropriate choice than stentorian?

While in some cases nearly identical to stentorian, earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.

the earsplitting sound of a siren

When can loud be used instead of stentorian?

The meanings of loud and stentorian largely overlap; however, loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

loud shouts of protest

When could raucous be used to replace stentorian?

The synonyms raucous and stentorian are sometimes interchangeable, but raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.

the raucous shouts of drunken revelers

When might strident be a better fit than stentorian?

The words strident and stentorian can be used in similar contexts, but strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.

the strident voices of hecklers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stentorian

Darcy’s singing may sometimes bring to mind the stentorian declamations of the Fall’s Mark E. Smith, but there’s also a strain of petulant hot-guy brio in his voice that a Strokes fan might recognize. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2024

But its structure is traditional and its bursts of emotion, from stentorian speeches to frantic embraces and fistfights, can seem over the top. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2024

Filmed while pregnant with her first daughter, the comedian cracks wry, filthy, and culturally specific jokes in a stentorian voice with equal shades of formidability and shrewd wit. —Eric Farwell, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2024

The quietly ominous rumble at the start of Tesori’s score gives way to a chorus of fliers whose stentorian march morphs into a neo-Baroque fugue. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023

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