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 The discontent was more widespread, more vociferous and more insulting this time. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Multiple former Human Rights Watch staffers panned Shakir and his critique, including Ken Roth, the group’s former executive director and himself a vociferous critic of Israel. Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026 But amid vociferous community pushback at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, councilmembers deferred the move until a more collaborative agreement can be reached. Devan Patel, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026 Fink was formerly vociferous about the importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing, and has argued that climate change is reshaping finance, creating an imperative for executives to reallocate their capital to address the crisis accordingly. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vociferous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vociferous
Adjective
  • Arratia in particular worships at the altar of De la Iglesia whose highly political, outspoken but structured political melodramas, made from the ‘60s to the ‘80s, underscored how Spain’s establishment exploited it young proles, pushed into crime for a lack of real economic alternatives.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Always entertaining and joking with those around him, the outspoken American has taken on a showman personality at the Games.
    Tales Azzoni, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But critics of bell-to-bell bans are just as vocal.
    Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Country singers impressed, as did the unique vocal stylings of dementia-care aide Brooks Rosser, who is all but certain to be among the last standing in the competition.
    Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This is blatant hypocrisy for Republicans to demonstrate.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The controversy connects to a larger schism on the right, with some conservatives pushing back against an increasingly vocal faction whose denunciations of Israel, critics say, often combine with blatant antisemitism.
    Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Bauder admonished the crowd several times for being too noisy, and police removed a protester who yelled vulgar comments.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Anthemic action was giving way to chill mantras, as if to regulate the ever noisier, ever more distracting world.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vociferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vociferous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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