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
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.
“Because Karoline’s boss is so vociferous, she is vociferous,” Ari Fleischer, the press secretary under Republican George W. Bush, observed after her first year.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
It was world number 114 Chwalinska who held first - much to the delight of the 15,000-strong crowd who gave her vociferous support throughout.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
While external noise increased, mainly from a vociferous section of the fanbase, she was supported by the club.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
And it was partly a vociferous call for safer streets throughout the city.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2026
“Lawrence was particularly vociferous about the need for mobilizing all scientific talent for the uranium program,” he wrote.
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.
