boisterous

[ boi-ster-uhs, -struhs ]

/ ˈbɔɪ stər əs, -strəs /

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See synonyms for: boisterous / boisterously / boisterousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained: the sound of boisterous laughter.

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

Obsolete. rough and massive.

OTHER WORDS FOR boisterous

1 uproarious, obstreperous, roistering, loud, vociferous, impetuous.

1, 2 tempestuous, tumultuous, turbulent, violent, wild.

See synonyms for boisterous on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR boisterous

1, 2 calm, serene.

See antonyms for boisterous on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of boisterous

1425–75; late Middle English boistrous, variant of Middle English boistous crude, strong, fierce, gross; of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM boisterous

bois·ter·ous·ly, adverbbois·ter·ous·ness, nounun·bois·ter·ous, adjectiveun·bois·ter·ous·ly, adverb

un·bois·ter·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use boisterous in a sentence

Tank, the boisterous and bubbly lead singer, and I were speaking about her NPR Tiny Desk win before hitting the stage.
Tarriona “Tank” Ball’s Playlist is Pure Friend Goals|Brande Victorian|February 19, 2021|Essence.com
Then there’s the boisterous Miller, from whom the words flow freely.
Dynamic sophomores Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller are powering an explosive Maryland offense|Kareem Copeland|January 13, 2021|Washington Post
An overshadowed state, not known for much in particular except chemicals, credit cards and other corporations, consistently overshadowed by its more boisterous neighbors.
Lovely, little Delaware — long famous for corporations, chickens and credit cards — is ready for its big moment|Karen Heller|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
Police have the ability to declare a gathering unlawful, “whenever two or more persons assemble together to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner,” according to state law.
No Unlawful Assembly Charges So Far Following Dozens of Arrests|Brittany Cruz-Fejeran and Ashly McGlone|October 12, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Young people in casual dress swapped business cards and chatted boisterously.
America’s Start-Up Silver Lining|Daniel Gross|October 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In Benghazi itself, men hang off a seafront wall, clapping and singing boisterously out of tune.
Benghazi: Libya's Liberated City|Babak Dehghanpisheh|February 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
We hurried back to the fire, Maloney talking boisterously about his proposed hunt.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
I am sure I never overflowed quite so boisterously, sighed Mrs. Belding.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
In that mood he would have avoided Captain Zoradus Wass if he had spied that boisterously cheerful mariner in season.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
The others, now that the fire was, out, seemed to think the incident boisterously amusing.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
This connection, like every other I formed; or was led into contrary to my inclination, began rather boisterously.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete|Jean Jacques Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for boisterous

boisterous

/ (ˈbɔɪstərəs, -strəs) /

adjective

noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly

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

Derived forms of boisterous

boisterously, adverbboisterousness, noun

Word Origin for boisterous

C13 boistuous, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

boisterous

OTHER WORDS FOR boisterous

OPPOSITES FOR boisterous

Origin of boisterous

OTHER WORDS FROM boisterous

Words related to boisterous

How to use boisterous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boisterous

Derived forms of boisterous

Word Origin for boisterous