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View synonyms for obstreperous

obstreperous

[ uhb-strep-er-uhs ]

adjective

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

    Synonyms: uncontrolled, refractory

    Antonyms: obedient

  2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous:

    obstreperous children.

    Antonyms: calm



obstreperous

/ əbˈstrɛpərəs /

adjective

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


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Derived Forms

  • obˈstreperousness, noun
  • obˈstreperously, adverb

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Other Words From

  • ob·streper·ous·ly adverb
  • ob·streper·ous·ness ob·strep·e·ros·i·ty [uh, b-strep-, uh, -, ros, -i-tee], noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of obstreperous1

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of obstreperous1

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

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Example Sentences

Yeah, they may have been extreme or obstreperous or this or that, but they were good.

Lots of things got in the way of that, notably the lousy economy, and secondly the obstreperous Republicans.

In time the obstreperous Texicans developed revolutionary ideas.

Even the messiest, most obstreperous books are reduced to a litany of bullet points, or a single bullet point.

He liked to drink, colleagues say, and would occasionally get obstreperous.

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

Captain Downs kicked at this obstreperous sailor, and at the same time fanned a blow at his head with open palm.

The chances that he would become obstreperous and provoke a general row or not were about even.

Mrs. Caukins started up stairs whence came sounds of an obstreperous bootjack.

A new set of stratagems was vainly tried to quiet my obstreperous inviter; and then mamma, as usual, gave up the point.

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