adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of raucous
1760–70; < Latin raucus hoarse, harsh, rough; see -ous
Compare meaning
How does raucous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Raucous means unpleasantly loud, or behaving in a noisy and disorderly way. It can be hard to give an oral report in the front of a classroom when the kids in the back are being raucous. Raucous is often used to refer to loud laughter, loud voices, or a loud party, all of which can be harsh or unpleasant. Near synonyms are strident and rowdy. This adjective is from Latin raucus "hoarse." Think of raucous as people whose hoarseness can't come on too soon.
Vocabulary lists containing raucous
A Raisin in the Sun
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The Book Thief
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Death of a Salesman
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anyone who wants to trade SpaceX’s options should expect to encounter a raucous market.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
The East Coast parades were raucous affairs with participants including a shock rock band in two-foot fright wigs and neon body paint performing from a flatbed truck.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
The banter became raucous enough that a staffer had to step out into the hall and tell them to quiet down.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
He has scored four goals for his country, the most notable coming against Denmark on that magical night in November when World Cup qualification was secured at a raucous Hampden Park.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
A flock of ravens rose from inside the walls when,they climbed through the broken gate, and the caged ravens in their wagons called out to them with quarks and raucous shrieks.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
