obstreperous

UK: /əbˈstrɛpərəs/ US: /əbˈstrɛpərəs/ ,(əb strep′ər əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•strep•er•ous /əbˈstrɛpərəs/   adj. 

1. resisting control or restraint;
   unruly:
   obstreperous demonstrators.
2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous:
   an obstreperous party.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•strep•er•ous  (əb strep′ər əs), adj. 

1. resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous:
   obstreperous children.

• Latin obstreperus clamorous, akin to obstrepere to make a noise at (ob- ob- + strepere to rattle); see -ous
• 1590–1600

ob•strep′er•ous•ly, adv. 
ob•strep′er•ous•ness, ob•strep•e•ros•i•ty  (əb strep′ə ros′i tē), n.  Synonyms

• 1. uncontrolled, refractory.

Antonyms

• 1. obedient.
• 2. calm.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obstreperous / əbˈstrɛpərəs/ adjective

1. noisy or rough, esp in resisting restraint or control
   Also (dialect, jocular): obstropalous, obstropulous

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin, from obstrepere, from ob- against + strepere to roar

obˈstreperously adverb

obˈstreperousness noun