DEFINITIONS

obstreperous

[ uhb-strep-er-uhs ]
/ əbˈstrɛp ər əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR obstreperous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
noisy, clamorous, or boisterous: obstreperous children.

Words related to obstreperous

lawlessness, recalcitrance, fractiousness, refractoriness, imprudence, obstinacy, perverseness, recklessness, intractability, assertiveness, wildness, orneriness, rebelliousness, willfulness, impetuousness, impulsiveness, unmanageability

Words nearby obstreperous

obstetrician-gynecologist, obstetrics, obstinacy, obstinate, obstipation, obstreperous, obstruct, obstructed testis, obstruction, obstructionist, obstructive apnea

Origin of obstreperous

1590–1600; < Latin obstreperus clamorous, akin to obstrepere to make a noise at (ob- ob- + strepere to rattle); see -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM obstreperous

ob·strep·er·ous·ly, adverbob·strep·er·ous·ness, ob·strep·e·ros·i·ty [uhb-strep-uh-ros-i-tee] /əbˌstrɛp əˈrɒs ɪ ti/, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for obstreperousness

  • Diogenes finally convalesced to his former state of ruggedness and obstreperousness.

    Our Next-Door Neighbors|Belle Kanaris Maniates

  • The visitor from across the Atlantic is surprised at the obstreperousness of the more vigorous members of the family.

    Humanly Speaking|Samuel McChord Crothers

British Dictionary definitions for obstreperousness

obstreperous
/ (əbˈstrɛpərəs) /

adjective

noisy or rough, esp in resisting restraint or control

Derived forms of obstreperous

obstreperously, adverbobstreperousness, noun

Word Origin for obstreperous

C16: from Latin, from obstrepere, from ob- against + strepere to roar
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