vociferous
/vou'sifərəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Making or characterized by a loud and vehement outcry: Describes someone or something that is conspicuously and offensively loud, often in expressing opinions or feelings.
- Given to vehement or noisy expression: Describes a person, group, or protest that is habitually loud and forceful in speech or complaint.
Usage and Examples
General Use:
- The vociferous protesters outside the courthouse demanded justice. (The loud and forceful protesters outside the courthouse demanded justice.)
- He was a vociferous critic of the new policy, writing angry letters to the newspaper. (He was a loud and vehement critic of the new policy.)
- The debate was dominated by a few vociferous members. (The debate was controlled by a few conspicuously loud members.)
Describing Sounds or Noise:
- The meeting was disrupted by vociferous objections from the audience. (The meeting was interrupted by loud and forceful objections.)
- A vociferous crowd greeted the team's defeat. (A noisy and clamorous crowd greeted the team's defeat.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Vociferous in one's support/opposition": Extremely loud and forceful in expressing support or opposition.
- The senator was vociferous in her opposition to the bill. (The senator was vehemently loud in her opposition to the bill.)
- Often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying the noise is excessive, disruptive, or offensively insistent.
Variants and Related Words
- Vociferously (adverb): In a loud and vehement manner.
- The crowd cheered vociferously. (The crowd cheered very loudly and forcefully.)
- Vociferousness (noun): The quality of being vociferous.
- The vociferousness of the debate surprised the moderator. (The loud vehemence of the debate surprised the moderator.)
Synonyms
- Clamorous: Noisy and demanding.
- Strident: Loud and harsh; grating.
- Blatant: Completely obvious, often offensively so.
- Boisterous: Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy.
- Vehement: Showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
Antonyms
- Quiet: Making little or no noise.
- Silent: Not making any sound.
- Reticent: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved.
- Taciturn: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- While "vociferous" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in phrases like:
- A vociferous minority: A small group that is very loud and forceful in expressing its views, often creating an impression of greater size or support.
- The policy change was driven by a vociferous minority, not the silent majority.
Adjective
- conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry
- blatant radios
- a clamorous uproar
- strident demands
- a vociferous mob