boisterous
BOY-stur-us
/ˈbɔɪstərəs/
Noisy, energetic, and rowdy in a cheerful or uncontrolled manner.
Implies physical loudness and high spirits, often associated with children or crowds.
The story behind the word. Tracing back to Middle English 'boistous' (rough, violent, or clumsy). Over time, its edge softened from violent rough manners to cheerful, noisy high spirits.
Word relationships
- rowdy: Rowdy carries a slightly stronger risk of disorder or aggression, whereas boisterous is mostly harmless fun.
- placid: Placid means calm and quiet, the exact opposite of boisterous physical energy.
Commonly confused with
- belligerent: Belligerent means hostile and eager to fight; boisterous means wildly cheerful and noisy.
Word family
- boisterously (adverb): In a noisy and wild manner.
- boisterousness (noun): The state of being rowdy and energetic.
Collocations
- boisterous crowd
- boisterous children
- boisterous laughter
Example sentences
- "The boisterous crowd of pupils ran across the yard shouting with joy during recess." School playground
Memory hook
BOYSTERous BOYS are noisy and rowdy on the field. Noisy and rowdy fun.
When not to use
Avoid using to describe malice or intentional hostility; boisterous energy is cheerful, not mean.
Fun facts
- In 15th-century English, wind and weather were frequently described as 'boisterous'.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.