earsplitting
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely loud; loud enough to cause temporary hearing loss or discomfort: Describes a sound of such high volume and intensity that it is physically painful or potentially damaging to the ears.
Usage
- The adjective earsplitting is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like or ).
- It is a strong, descriptive term typically used for sudden, sharp, or sustained noises like alarms, screams, explosions, or machinery.
- It often carries a negative connotation, implying an unpleasant or overwhelming auditory experience.
Examples
- Attributive use:
- The earsplitting sound of the fire alarm forced everyone to evacuate the building.
- An earsplitting roar came from the jet engine as it took off.
- Predicative use:
- The feedback from the microphone was earsplitting.
- The crowd's cheer when the team scored was absolutely earsplitting.
Advanced Usage
- Hyperbolic Use: Sometimes used in a less literal, more exaggerated way to emphasize that something is very loud.
- The toddler's tantrum produced an earsplitting scream that could be heard throughout the house.
Variants and Related Words
- Deafening (adj): Extremely loud; synonym for earsplitting.
- Piercing (adj): A loud, high-pitched, and sharp sound.
- Thunderous (adj): Very loud and deep, like thunder.
- Ear-piercing (adj): Similar to earsplitting, emphasizing a sharp, high-pitched quality.
Synonyms
- Deafening
- Thunderous
- Booming
- Roaring
- Piercing
- Strident
Antonyms
- Faint
- Muffled
- Soft
- Quiet
- Subdued
- Whispered
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To be loud enough to wake the dead: An idiom for something extremely loud.
- The noise from the construction site was loud enough to wake the dead.
- At full blast: At the maximum possible volume.
- He played his music at full blast, creating an earsplitting noise.
Adjective
- loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss