Word of the Day

: December 4, 2010

vociferous

adjective voh-SIF-uh-rus

What It Means

: marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry

vociferous in Context

The toddler offered a vociferous protest when her mother scooped her up and carried her away from the lit menorah.

"Citizens of the United States are vociferous about the right to freedom of speech, especially when it comes to entertainment." -- From a review by Stuart Kemp in The Hollywood Reporter, October 22, 2010

Did You Know?

"Vociferous" derives from the word Latin "vox," which means "voice." But other English words can be used to describe those who compel attention by being loud and insistent. "Vociferous" implies a vehement shouting or calling out, but to convey the insistency of a demand or protest, "clamorous" might be a better choice. You could also use "strident" to suggest harsh and discordant noise in a protest, or "obstreperous" to imply loud, unruly and aggressive resistance to restraint. But someone who is noisy and turbulent due to high spirits rather than dissatisfaction might more aptly be called "boisterous."