vociferous
Americanadjective
-
crying out noisily; clamorous.
- Synonyms:
- boisterous, uproarious, vocal, noisy, loud
-
characterized by or uttered with noisy or vehement outcry.
vociferous protests.
adjective
-
characterized by vehemence, clamour, or noisiness
vociferous protests
-
making an outcry or loud noises; clamorous
a vociferous mob
Other Word Forms
- unvociferous adjective
- unvociferousness noun
- vociferously adverb
- vociferousness noun
Etymology
Origin of vociferous
First recorded in 1605–15; vocifer(ant) + -ous
Explanation
Vociferous describes loudmouths, such as the vociferous mob at the soccer game. Vociferous is from the Latin vociferari, meaning "to shout, yell." If you break it down to the first part, take vox, meaning "voice" and add it to ferre, meaning "to carry," then vociferous describes voices that carry; you can hear a vociferous person from across the room at a dance party. Vociferous isn't just loud, but annoying, too, like when the vociferous fans of the opposing team chant insults in unison. Try yanking a cookie out of a little kid's hand if you want to hear a vociferous reaction.
Vocabulary lists containing vociferous
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Latin Love, Vol I: vocare
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Notably, there was only a single dissent from the FOMC’s standpat decision, from Fed governor Stephen Miran, who has been vociferous in calling for sharp rate reductions.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
The USC faculty’s vociferous disapproval of the compact during a meeting of the university’s academic senate on Oct.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2025
He has been fixated on the prize, and for months, domestic supporters and international leaders seeking his favor have joined him in a vociferous campaign.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Among the most vociferous critics were Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, the current FBI director and deputy director.
From Salon • Jul. 14, 2025
Inside the White House, however, the standing of Harold Stassen, the most vociferous advocate of the test ban, had slipped.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
