obstreperous

Pronunciation: adjective. Synonyms: boisterous, disruptive, rowdy

adjective

Difficulty: advanced

Definition of obstreperous

Noisy, unruly, or stubbornly resistant to control, often in a loud and confrontational manner.

Origin of obstreperous

Language of origin: Latin

Root word: obstreperus

Original meaning: clamorous, noisy

How it evolved: Originally used to describe loud or clamorous behavior, the term grew to encompass unruly resistance or defiance over time.

Derived from the Latin 'obstreperus,' meaning 'clamorous' or 'noisy,' the word evolved to describe unruly or disruptive behavior in English by the mid-16th century.

First known use: 16th century

How to Remember obstreperous

Imagine an 'obstacle' (ob) plus 'trouble' (strep), creating a picture of someone loudly resisting and causing chaos.

Synonyms for obstreperous

Antonyms of obstreperous

obstreperous in a Sentence

  1. The obstreperous crowd at the rally made it nearly impossible for the speaker to be heard over the cacophony of chants and shouts.
  2. As the teacher struggled to regain control of the obstreperous classroom, she wondered if her lesson plan had been too ambitious for such a boisterous group of students.
  3. Despite his obstreperous objections, the committee proceeded with their decision, ignoring his loud protests.

obstreperous in Literature & Culture

Obstreperous has been used in literary works to describe unruly characters or chaotic scenes, and in political speeches to characterize disruptive behavior during debates or rallies.

Usage Notes

Obstreperous is often used to describe people, groups, or situations that are loudly defiant or resistant to authority. It carries a negative connotation and implies a lack of discipline or decorum.

Why obstreperous Matters for GRE & SAT

This word frequently appears in GRE texts to test vocabulary comprehension and the ability to discern nuanced meanings in context. Knowing synonyms and antonyms for obstreperous is particularly useful for sentence equivalence and reading comprehension sections.

Word Family

obstreperously (adverb)
In a noisy, unruly, or defiant manner.
obstreperousness (noun)
The quality of being noisy, unruly, or difficult to control.

Did You Know?

  • The word 'obstreperous' was famously used by Charles Dickens to describe unruly children in several of his novels.
  • Despite its serious tone, 'obstreperous' has appeared in humorous contexts, such as describing overly energetic pets or chaotic family gatherings.
  • The term is often used in political discourse to describe vocal opposition or disruptive protests.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with O

  • obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
  • obdurate — stubborn; unyielding
  • obeisance — reverence for an individual
  • obeisance — reverence for an individual
  • obfuscate — obscure or confuse
  • obfuscate — obscure or confuse
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts
  • objective — A thing aimed at or sought; not influenced by personal feelings
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; impartial
  • objective — Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts