vociferous
voh-SIF-er-us
/voʊˈsɪf.ər.əs/
Vehement or clamorous; making a loud and noisy outcry.
Combines 'voice' with 'carry' (ferous), describing someone who 'carries their voice' loudly and insistently.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'vociferari', meaning 'to shout'. It combines 'vox' (voice) and 'ferre' (to carry).
Word relationships
- clamorous: Clamorous emphasizes the confused noise of many voices.
- strident: Strident implies a harsh, grating, and overly forceful tone.
- quiet: Making little or no noise.
- subdued: Quiet and rather reflective or depressed.
Commonly confused with
- vocal: Vocal is simply speaking out; vociferous is speaking out with extreme loudness and intensity.
Word family
- vociferously (adverb): In a loud and forceful manner.
Collocations
- vociferous critic
- vociferous opponent
- vociferous protest
- vociferous demand
Example sentences
- "The decision was met with vociferous objections from the local community." Protest
- "The home team's vociferous fans cheered throughout the entire match." Sports fans
Memory hook
Vociferous = Voice + Ferocious. A ferocious voice is loud and insistent. Vociferous = Voice-carrying (loudly).
When not to use
Do not use 'vociferous' for a loud noise like thunder; it must describe a person or a group expressing an opinion loudly.
Fun facts
- The suffix '-ferous' also appears in 'coniferous' (cone-carrying) and 'auriferous' (gold-carrying).
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