boisterous

American  

[boi-ster-uhs, -struhs] / ˈbɔɪ stər əs, -strəs /

adjective

1. rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained.

   the sound of boisterous laughter.

   Synonyms:

   wild, violent, turbulent, tumultuous, tempestuous, impetuous, vociferous, loud, obstreperous, uproarious

   Antonyms:

   serene, calm

2. (of waves, weather, wind, etc.) rough and stormy.

   Synonyms:

   wild, violent, turbulent, tumultuous, tempestuous

   Antonyms:

   serene, calm

3. Obsolete. rough and massive.

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boisterous British  

/ -strəs, ˈbɔɪstərəs /

adjective

1. noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly

2. (of the wind, sea, etc) turbulent or stormy

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Other Word Forms

• boisterously adverb
• boisterousness noun
• unboisterous adjective
• unboisterously adverb
• unboisterousness noun

Etymology

Origin of boisterous

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English boistrous, variant of Middle English boistous “crude, fierce, gross, strong”; of obscure origin; possibly from Old French boisteus “lame,” from boist(e) “box,” also “cavity containing an organ, cavity in a bone” (ultimately from Late Latin buxis; box ¹ ( def. ) ) + -eus -eous ( def. )

Example Sentences

The game was played out amid a boisterous atmosphere in a stadium packed with Algerian fans in a crowd of 18,522.

From Barron's

In such a boisterous environment, the first set would be crucial.

From BBC

So dynamic and so boisterous is the experience of the entrance that the rest of the building cannot help but feel anticlimactic.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said Harry had been a normal "boisterous and exuberant" 16-year-old who was "full of charm".

From BBC

It was a show of defiance towards the boisterous Leeds crowd, and a symbol of the Kangaroos affirming their authority.

From BBC

Related Words

• clamorous
• loud
• rambunctious
• raucous
• riotous
• rollicking
• rowdy
• strident
• unruly
• uproarious
• vociferous