boisterous

adjective

ˈbȯi-st(ə-)rəs How to pronounce boisterous (audio)
Definition of boisterousnext
as in raucous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way the fans at the baseball game became particularly boisterous after the home run

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 full-bodied physicality with which delas Alas imbues her performance turns such punishingly poignant bits into the stuff of boisterous spectacle. — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026 Her boisterous pre-teen twins Ethan and Caleb are too young to grasp quite what’s at stake; high school sophomore Sophie (Sandler) has rather more vivid memories of going through this anguish before. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists. — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Matt Lucas and Marina Prior’s Thénardiers are boisterous and charming — more amiable sleazes than menacing scumbags, if that tracks. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for boisterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boisterous
  1. raucous
  2. rowdy
  3. rambunctious
  4. lively
  5. rumbustious
  6. noisy
  7. rollicking
Adjective
  • As was the raucous song of the small-block two feet from my spine, but that part is probably the least surprising of all.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
  • With the help of a few martinis and flutes of champagne, the raucous lineup of friends, muses, and confidantes sat still long enough to take the portrait accompanying this story.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • As Musashi scrambles through a school of Samurai, the game seamlessly bounces between skillful swordplay, rowdy improvisation, and Looney Tunes-style levity.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In front of a rowdy Queens crowd, the superstars surged in their debut to a 5-3, 4-1 victory against Routliffe and Glasspool, despite a slow start.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rowdy
Adjective
  • There’s also a kids water park for the more rambunctious members of the family to get their energy out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Enter a rambunctious alien, who crash-lands on Earth just when Lilo needs him the most.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of rambunctious
Adjective
  • Stop into Mercat Municipal, a lively indoor market where locals shop for fresh produce, meat, and fish.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The crowd outside the courthouse was liveliest in late August, when dozens of women wearing pink rallied to show support for Clancy and raise awareness about postpartum mental health, the central pillar of Clancy’s defense.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
    — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
  • Still, there’s a lot of pleasing vitality to this great American story about how clever brewers took an ancient idea and unlocked an unheard-of range of innovations with a combination of capitalist energy and rumbustious creativity.
    — Kyle Smith, National Review, 18 Apr. 2021
Definition of rumbustious
Adjective
  • Danley in August railed against the plan, describing the concept as overengineered, noisier, more dangerous and needlessly destructive toward the river ecosystem around Barber Park.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For Lindsey Maness, the menace during one hotel stay for work in Austin, Texas, was a noisy elevator near her room.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of rollicking

Browse Nearby Words

boils over
boisterous
boisterously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boisterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boisterous. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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