boisterous

[ boi-ster-uhs, -struhs ]

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.

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; see box¹ ) + -eus -eous

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

Other words from boisterous

bois·ter·ous·ly, adverb
bois·ter·ous·ness, noun
un·bois·ter·ous, adjective
un·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 | THE 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 | THE 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

Origin of boisterous

C13 boistuous, of unknown origin

Derived forms of boisterous

boisterously, adverb
boisterousness, noun

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

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