Synonyms of strident

strident

adjective

as in vocal

sounding harsh, forceful, and unpleasant

They heard their boss's strident voice from down the hall.

The critical questions began to anger the professor and the tone of her answers became noticeably more strident.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vocal
• outspoken
• noisy
• screaming
• blatant
• vociferous
• yelling
• nasal
• obstreperous
• penetrating
• piercing
• dissonant
• loudmouthed
• cacophonous
• whistling
• howling
• yawping
• openmouthed
• squawking
• sonorous
• sharp
• clamant
• yowling
• clamorous
• brazen
• brassy
• caterwauling
• resounding
• vociferating
• uproarious
• whiny
• booming
• jangly
• whiney
• earsplitting
• blaring
• clanging
• vociferant
• whining
• discordant
• yelping
• high-pitched
• squealing
• yapping
• shrieking
• yauping
• screeching
• rackety
• clangorous
• squeaky
• treble
• squeaking
• piping
• dinning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• silent
• hushed
• quiet
• still
• muffled
• muted
• softened
• noiseless
• soundless
• toned (down)

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of strident are blatant, boisterous, clamorous, obstreperous, and vociferous. While all these words mean "so loud or insistent as to compel attention," strident suggests harsh and discordant noise.

heard the strident cry of the crow

In what contexts can blatant take the place of strident?

The words blatant and strident are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, blatant implies an offensive bellowing or insensitive loudness.

blatant rock music

a blatant clamor for impeachment

When is boisterous a more appropriate choice than strident?

While the synonyms boisterous and strident are close in meaning, boisterous suggests a noisiness and turbulence due to high spirits.

a boisterous crowd of party goers

When would clamorous be a good substitute for strident?

The meanings of clamorous and strident largely overlap; however, clamorous may imply insistency as well as vociferousness in demanding or protesting.

clamorous demands for prison reforms

When might obstreperous be a better fit than strident?

Although the words obstreperous and strident have much in common, obstreperous suggests unruly and aggressive noisiness and resistance to restraint.

the obstreperous demonstrators were arrested

When could vociferous be used to replace strident?

The synonyms vociferous and strident are sometimes interchangeable, but vociferous implies a vehement shouting or calling out.

vociferous cries of protest and outrage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strident

Traveling with a suitcase full of microphones and a film production-quality sound recorder, Blumberg recorded all across Europe in order to complete the sometimes intimate, sometimes strident, but always emotional music that accompanies the Brady Corbet film. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025

And inside Disney’s C-suites on the Burbank lot, there was a feeling of déjà vu thanks to a looming defamation lawsuit filed in March by former and incoming President Donald Trump, a far more powerful and strident adversary than a South Dakota food processor. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024

These strident, provocative, eccentric, determined women can no longer justly be left out of any narrative of this movement. —Francesca Wade, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Arguments from the industry have been strident, emphasizing that this would likely work the opposite way, and defeat the very goal that the government was aspiring towards. —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025