Synonym Chooser

How is the word boisterous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of boisterous are blatant, clamorous, obstreperous, strident, and vociferous. While all these words mean "so loud or insistent as to compel attention," boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits.

a boisterous crowd of party goers

When would blatant be a good substitute for boisterous?

The words blatant and boisterous can be used in similar contexts, but blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness.

blatant rock music
a blatant clamor for impeachment

When is it sensible to use clamorous instead of boisterous?

While in some cases nearly identical to boisterous, clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting.

clamorous demands for prison reforms

In what contexts can obstreperous take the place of boisterous?

The meanings of obstreperous and boisterous largely overlap; however, obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint.

the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested

Where would strident be a reasonable alternative to boisterous?

While the synonyms strident and boisterous are close in meaning, strident suggests harsh and discordant noise.

heard the strident cry of the crow

When is vociferous a more appropriate choice than boisterous?

In some situations, the words vociferous and boisterous are roughly equivalent. However, vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.

vociferous cries of protest and outrage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of boisterous The crowd at Adams’ town hall was boisterous at times. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2025 The boisterous comedian lights up the stage with sly wit and brazen confidence, conveying Moss’ righteous fury over being bottom of the office food chain. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 That honor goes to the Hot Brown, a sandwich allegedly created to sustain and sober up boisterous, late-night dancing guests at Louisville’s Brown Hotel in 1926. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025 The second film also introduced other new characters, such as the fan-favorite Puss in Boots — whose boisterous attitude paved the way for more Shrek stories. Jane Lacroix, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boisterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boisterous
Adjective
  • After a two-year hiatus, South Park is gearing up for a raucous return, with the season 27 trailer indicating that things are about to get even crazier.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • In one memorable sequence, D’Annunzio is played by a professional guitarist who, after acting out a crucial showdown with an Italian general, provides his own raucous musical accompaniment to the aftermath.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This time of year, Dee’s massive herding dogs have their work cut out for them: The spring kids have grown into rowdy teenagers.
    Scott Clark as told to Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The Kittredge house seems to have been a rowdy place.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The true culprit, a rambunctious zebra, tears through the screen and plunges a normal suburban home into tumult with the help of some other animals and a stash of fireworks.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Tellez, now 30, was born Ryan John Tellez but became Rowdy because of his rambunctious nature while in the womb.
    HECTOR AMEZCUA, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The same subject stirred up a lively debate in the Vogue Slack channel.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The 2025 season has brought a lively atmosphere, with a strong law enforcement presence to ensure safety.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Like any good house party, as many high schoolers can attest, the scene was a little chaotic, noisy and free flowing, in more ways than one.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Young planets orbit young stars, and young stars tend to be very noisy, which makes extracting the signals of their young planets all the more difficult.
    Victoria Corless, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2023
  • His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.
    Sonal Dutt, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Third, the violent reaction in financial markets that followed Mr. Trump's latest tariff salvo could persuade him to change course.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Adams said the pair had discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
  • From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.
    David Kortava, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021

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Cite this Entry

“Boisterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boisterous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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