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loud

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adverb

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a loud voice
a high-volume voice
an outspoken voice
a thunderous voice
a raucous voice
a strong voice
loud applause
booming applause
huge applause
rowdy applause
abundant applause
noisy applause
a loud whisper
an aggressive whisper
an intense whisper
an exaggerated whisper
a strong whisper
a heavy whisper
a loud thud
a violent thud
a massive thud
a sharp thud
an audible thud
an enormous thud
loud noise
high-volume noise
excessive noise
big noise
annoying noise

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective loud contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of loud are earsplitting, raucous, stentorian, and strident. While all these words mean "marked by intensity or volume of sound," loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

loud shouts of protest

When can earsplitting be used instead of loud?

In some situations, the words earsplitting and loud are roughly equivalent. However, earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.

the earsplitting sound of a siren

When is it sensible to use raucous instead of loud?

The synonyms raucous and loud are sometimes interchangeable, but raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.

the raucous shouts of drunken revelers

In what contexts can stentorian take the place of loud?

The meanings of stentorian and loud largely overlap; however, stentorian implies great power and range.

an actor with a stentorian voice

Where would strident be a reasonable alternative to loud?

Although the words strident and loud have much in common, strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.

the strident voices of hecklers

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 loud
Adjective
McCormick, who received loud boos for his response, then compared the crowd to the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2025 As communicating quietly through body language didn't work, the dog tries loud communication, such as growling or showing teeth. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 After one dribble, Jokić stepped twice, squared from the opposite arc and hurled a 50-foot Hail Mary that began at his chest and ended with a loud spank off the top of the glass. Fred Katz, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams was one of the loudest voices who condemned the Los Angeles Dodgers for hosting the Sisterhood of Perpetual Indulgence at their stadium in 2023. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loud
Adjective
  • The genteel tranquility of his $10 million estate is shattered by the deafening scream of jet traffic with the regularity of commercial airline schedules.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Zoom out: While these protests may be vociferous, there's an equally deafening volume of grievances the SEC sees.
    Hope King, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • To fix a noisy box spring, add sturdy material, such as thick cardboard or a thin piece of plywood in between the box spring and mattress.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Despite being a man down, Ruben Amorim’s side were relatively comfortable in the second half as a noisy Old Trafford crowd enjoyed a win that increased the gap between the two teams to 16 points.
    Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But with a will Strike all your harps and set them ringing; On hill and heath Let every breath Throw all its power into singing!
    Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024
  • His ringing, carefree laugh mixed with soaring rhetoric about democracy, working families and hope.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
Adjective
  • Tinnitus is when someone hears ringing in the ears—or a buzzing or roaring sound.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 20 Oct. 2024
  • On her first day of filming, Ronan was thrown into a lively quickstep number in a roaring dance hall.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The Chiefs ran out first to thunderous booing after being introduced by longtime fan Jon Hamm, and the Eagles soon followed, with Bradley Cooper doing the honors for Philadelphia.
    Alex Ross, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
  • All landed like thunderous calls to action, the crowd bouncing to the attack of Morello’s guitar.
    Steve Appleford, SPIN, 11 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loud. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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