strident

adjective

stri·​dent ˈstrī-dᵊnt How to pronounce strident (audio)
: characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound
a strident voice
also : commanding attention by a loud or obtrusive quality
strident slogans
stridently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for strident

loud, stentorian, earsplitting, raucous, strident mean marked by intensity or volume of sound.

loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

loud shouts of protest

stentorian implies great power and range.

an actor with a stentorian voice

earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.

the earsplitting sound of a siren

raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.

the raucous shouts of drunken revelers

strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.

the strident voices of hecklers

vociferous, clamorous, blatant, strident, boisterous, obstreperous mean so loud or insistent as to compel attention.

vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.

vociferous cries of protest and outrage

clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting.

clamorous demands for prison reforms

blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness.

blatant rock music
a blatant clamor for impeachment

strident suggests harsh and discordant noise.

heard the strident cry of the crow

boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits.

a boisterous crowd of party goers

obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint.

the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested

Examples of strident in a Sentence

The strident tone in his voice revealed his anger.
Recent Examples on the Web Who controls generative AI has become the focus of an increasingly strident debate amid a goldrush that has pushed the valuation of AI chip company Nvidia to $2 trillion. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 In April 2021, Jimmy Lai—a strident critic of the Chinese government—was sentenced to 14 months in prison in Hong Kong for participating in protests. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024 Only a month after his Letter to the Republican Party, though, an editor tried to soften Bradbury’s equally strident anti-Russian stance in a short story. Bradley J. Birzer, National Review, 2 Jan. 2024 Big donors had been turned off by Mr. DeSantis’s gaffes, his strident social conservatism and a series of bizarre social media videos, one of which included the Nazi symbol. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2024 The strident efforts of state officials to increase homebuilding collide with a shortage of skilled construction workers. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 Platonov is among the least strident of Soviet writers. Patrick Kurp, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2024 But those expected to care for these patients were equally strident in their comments Tuesday. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2023 New Delhi often fails to match Beijing’s strident positions. Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 25 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strident.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin strident-, stridens, present participle of stridere, stridēre to make a harsh noise

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strident was circa 1656

Dictionary Entries Near strident

Cite this Entry

“Strident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strident. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

strident

adjective
stri·​dent ˈstrīd-ᵊnt How to pronounce strident (audio)
: harsh sounding : grating, shrill
a strident voice
stridently adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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