Obstreperous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /əb-ˈstre-p(ə-)rəs/ ob·strep·er·ous

Meaning & Definition of Obstreperous

Obstreperous (adjective)

  1. marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness, clamorous
  2. stubbornly resistant to control, unruly

Obstreperous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest

    "an obstreperous crowd protesting the government's immigration policy"

    similar: blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, vociferous, yawping, yowling
    related: clangorous, dinning, discordant, noisy, loudmouthed, outspoken, vocal, boisterous, rackety, raucous, robustious, rowdy, uproarious, cacophonous, dissonant, earsplitting, grating, shrill, strident, blaring, blustering, booming, brassy, brazen
    near: noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still, calm, hushed, subdued

  2. given to resisting authority or another's control

    "the club's president was at his wits' end with obstreperous members who refused to cooperate"

    similar: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful
    related: noncooperative, uncooperative, insurgent, mutinous, adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, fractious, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, perverse, resistant, wrongheaded, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly
    opposite: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable
    near: acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging, yielding, behaved, disciplined, well-bred, courteous, polite, respectful, kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient, decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper, controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Obstreperous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Obstreperous:

blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, vociferous, yawping, yowling, balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Obstreperous

Words with the opposite meaning of Obstreperous:

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

Related Words for Obstreperous

clangorous, dinning, discordant, noisy, loudmouthed, outspoken, vocal, boisterous, rackety, raucous, robustious, rowdy, uproarious, cacophonous, dissonant, earsplitting, grating, shrill, strident, blaring, blustering, booming, brassy, brazen, noncooperative, uncooperative, insurgent, mutinous, adamant, adamantine

Near Antonyms of Obstreperous

noiseless, quiet, silent, soundless, still, calm, hushed, subdued, acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging, yielding, behaved, disciplined, well-bred, courteous, polite, respectful, kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient, decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper

Word Forms of Obstreperous

Derived words: obstreperously (adverb), obstreperousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Obstreperous

Latin obstreperus, from obstrepere to clamor against, from ob- against + strepere to make a noise

First known use: circa 1600

Frequently Asked Questions about Obstreperous

What does "Obstreperous" mean?

"Obstreperous" means marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness, clamorous. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness, clamorous. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Obstreperous"?

Other words for "Obstreperous" include blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating and vociferous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Obstreperous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Obstreperous"?

There are 115 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Obstreperous". Common alternatives include blatant, caterwauling, clamant, clamorous, squawking, vociferant, vociferating, vociferous, yawping and yowling.

What is the opposite of "Obstreperous"?

Antonyms of "Obstreperous" include amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly and submissive. Near antonyms include noiseless, quiet, silent and soundless.

How do you use "Obstreperous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Obstreperous" in a sentence: "an obstreperous crowd protesting the government's immigration policy"; "the club's president was at his wits' end with obstreperous members who refused to cooperate".

Is "Obstreperous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Obstreperous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Obstreperous"?

"Obstreperous" is pronounced /əb-ˈstre-p(ə-)rəs/ and divided into syllables as ob·strep·er·ous.

What is the origin of the word "Obstreperous"?

"Obstreperous" comes from Latin obstreperus, from obstrepere to clamor against, from ob- against + strepere to make a noise. First known use: circa 1600.