Strident
/ˈstraɪdənt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Strident means a sound or voice that is very loud, sharp, and unpleasant to hear. It can describe noises like a loud alarm or a person speaking in a harsh, forceful way. The word often suggests something that is not only loud but also a little annoying or aggressive.
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See It in Action
A loud, harsh, and unpleasant sound
- •The strident sound of the alarm woke everyone up.
- •The strident noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
- •The strident screech of the brakes startled the driver.
A harsh or forceful way of speaking or expressing opinions
- •She made a strident argument during the debate.
- •His strident voice made people uncomfortable.
- •The politician's strident speech angered many listeners.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "strident" like "loud" (A1 word), but not just loud—also sharp and harsh, like a loud alarm that hurts your ears
- ✓Picture a fire alarm ringing loudly and sharply in a quiet room, making you cover your ears
- ✓It's the feeling when someone yells at you in a way that sounds rough and not nice
- ✓Sounds like "STRY-dent" → imagine a "string" stretched tight making a sharp, high sound that cuts through noise
- ✓Think of a teacher speaking very loudly and sharply when upset—hard to ignore and uncomfortable to hear
- ✓NOT like "soft" or "quiet" (gentle or low sound), strident is loud and sometimes unpleasant
- ✓NOT like "melodic" (pleasant sound), strident is harsh and grating
- ✓NOT like "calm" or "gentle" voice, strident often feels forceful or aggressive
Try Other Words
- •Harsh: unpleasantly rough or severe sound or tone (Use when emphasizing roughness or unpleasantness)
- •Shrill: very high and sharp sound (Use when the sound is high-pitched and piercing)
- •Piercing: very sharp and intense sound that feels like it cuts through (Use when sound is sharp and hard to ignore)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: No clear prefix; root "strid-" related to "strid-" in Latin meaning "to make a harsh sound"; suffix "-ent" forms adjectives meaning "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "stridēre" meaning "to make a harsh, grating noise"
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 1500s to describe harsh sounds, especially in music or speech
- •Modern usage: Used to describe loud, harsh sounds or voices, often with a negative or critical feeling
Reflect & Connect
•How can a strident voice affect the way people listen or respond to what is said?
•Can something be too strident in everyday life? When might this be a problem or useful?
Fill in the blanks
1.The strident alarm clock ___ me awake early every morning because of its sharp sound.
2.When she spoke in a strident tone, it made the room feel ___ and tense.
3.Unlike a soft whisper, a strident voice is ___ and hard to ignore.
4.The protesters used strident chants to ___ their strong opinions loudly.
5.A strident noise usually ___ people’s ears and makes them uncomfortable.
6.He tried to speak calmly, but his voice became strident when he ___ angry.
7.The strident sound of the whistle ___ the players to stop the game immediately.