Words / C2

uhb-STREP-uh-r-uh-s/əbˈstrepərəs/

Obstreperous means noisy, unruly, and hard to control (formal): an obstreperous crowd, obstreperous children. Noisy (already in the dictionary) is everyday and thinner; pugnacious (already in the dictionary) is spoiling for a fight, not merely loud. A walkout can be theatre. Do not file a numbered objection as obstreperous to shut it down.

Meaning

Noisy, unruly, and difficult to control (formal).

Examples

• “An obstreperous walkout does not replace a numbered objection.”
• “Noisy is everyday (already in A1). Unruly is close. Boisterous is high spirits. Pugnacious is combative (already in C2). A corridor scene is not a methods comment. A quiet, dated challenge can be the right item. Volume is not a finding; the empty n is.”

Good to know

Noisily unruly. Everyday: noisy / unruly. Contrast: pugnacious (itching for a fight — already in C2). Theatre ≠ a numbered point.

Near in meaning

unruly

New