Definition of vociferousnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of vociferous are blatant, boisterous, clamorous, obstreperous, and strident. While all these words mean "so loud or insistent as to compel attention," vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.

vociferous cries of protest and outrage

In what contexts can blatant take the place of vociferous?

In some situations, the words blatant and vociferous are roughly equivalent. However, blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness.

blatant rock music
a blatant clamor for impeachment

When can boisterous be used instead of vociferous?

Although the words boisterous and vociferous have much in common, boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits.

a boisterous crowd of party goers

When might clamorous be a better fit than vociferous?

While in some cases nearly identical to vociferous, clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting.

clamorous demands for prison reforms

When could obstreperous be used to replace vociferous?

While the synonyms obstreperous and vociferous are close in meaning, obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint.

the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested

When is it sensible to use strident instead of vociferous?

The words strident and vociferous can be used in similar contexts, but strident suggests harsh and discordant noise.

heard the strident cry of the crow

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 vociferous Former England internationals Joe Cole and Carlton Cole were among the most vociferous in the days leading up to the Premier League’s opening weekend, dismissing any notion of survival. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Despite that, wealthy opponents of the tax have been vociferous, and the Mamdani administration’s rollout of it has been highly scrutinized. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026 Gómez González had been known as a vociferous antagonist of loggers. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 The grounds crew member then picked up the squirrel, which was under a towel, and was booed off the field by a vociferous Tigers’ crowd. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for vociferous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vociferous
Adjective
  • Speculation and conspiracy theories have plagued Kirk’s death, fueled even by public figures such as Candace Owens, a longtime friend of Kirk, who has been outspoken about her belief that his death was orchestrated in an elaborate plot.
    — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As an adult, Crawford's daughter Christina was outspoken about her troubled childhood in Brentwood.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • During a June 11 meeting where the commission reluctantly agreed to put the question on the ballot after a judge ordered them to do so, Gabela was one of the most vocal opponents of the deal, the terms of which date back to 2016 and 2017.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As the song unfolds, the drums, lead vocal, background vocals, chord movement and production all play a role in carrying and reshaping it, allowing the sections to feel distinctly different while still remaining tightly connected.
    — David Penn, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • As election season starts in much of the world, officials note an uptick in both blatant and subtle uses of social media to sow lies among voters.
    — the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
  • How successful the gerrymandering actually was remains to be seen — Republicans are polling poorly in the Lone Star State, perhaps in part because of their blatant attempt to cheat voters out of their voices.
    — The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The focus was how AI can be integrated and optimize the existing business – rather than presentation of noisy (and controversial) slates of AI TV shows and movies.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vociferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vociferous. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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