obstreperous

[ uhb-strep-er-uhs ]
See synonyms for: obstreperousobstreperouslyobstreperousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.

  2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous: obstreperous children.

Origin of obstreperous

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin obstreperus “clamorous,” akin to obstrepere “to make a noise at” (ob- ob- + strepere “to rattle”); see -ous

Other words for obstreperous

Opposites for obstreperous

Other words from obstreperous

  • ob·strep·er·ous·ly, adverb
  • ob·strep·er·ous·ness, ob·strep·e·ros·i·ty [uhb-strep-uh-ros-i-tee], /əbˌstrɛp əˈrɒs ɪ ti/, noun

Words Nearby obstreperous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use obstreperous in a sentence

  • Their obstreperous loyalty might seem inconsistent with this unideal character, but it is only seeming.

    Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
  • Captain Downs kicked at this obstreperous sailor, and at the same time fanned a blow at his head with open palm.

    Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
  • The chances that he would become obstreperous and provoke a general row or not were about even.

    Aletta | Bertram Mitford
  • Mrs. Caukins started up stairs whence came sounds of an obstreperous bootjack.

    Flamsted quarries | Mary E. Waller
  • A new set of stratagems was vainly tried to quiet my obstreperous inviter; and then mamma, as usual, gave up the point.

    Discipline | Mary Brunton

British Dictionary definitions for obstreperous

obstreperous

/ (əbˈstrɛpərəs) /


adjective
  1. noisy or rough, esp in resisting restraint or control

Origin of obstreperous

1
C16: from Latin, from obstrepere, from ob- against + strepere to roar

Derived forms of obstreperous

  • obstreperously, adverb
  • obstreperousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012