boisterous

[boi-ster-uhs, -struhs]

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.

boisterous

/ -strəs, ˈbɔɪstərəs /

adjective

1. noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of boisterous¹

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. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of boisterous¹

C13 boistuous , of unknown origin

Example Sentences

As Frank Costanza, the temperamental father of Jason Alexander’s George Costanza, Stiller’s boisterous personality and comic timing stole scenes and scored the actor an Emmy nomination, 40 years into his career.

Read more on Salon

Tables were filled with multi-generational families, Gen Z couples on first dates and boisterous groups of friends.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We expect a great, boisterous crowd. We have one of our aces on the mound. So the way we’re playing, we want to put these guys away and don’t let them up for air.”

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McIlroy went 3-1-1 during the event while enduring boisterous jeers and insults from members of the crowd who were doing their best to disrupt him while he lined up to swing or putt.

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A desire to quieten the notoriously boisterous New York fans was one reason.

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Related Words

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