Strident
adjective /ˈstraɪ.dənt/ — Loud, harsh, and unpleasantly insistent
Definition
Loud and harsh — having a grating, shrill quality that forces itself on the attention. Also used of voices, arguments, or demands that are aggressively insistent.
Beyond the definition
Sound that doesn't ask permission. Strident is sound that announces itself without consideration for those who have to hear it — it commands attention by being impossible to ignore.
Origin & history
From Latin 'stridens' (creaking, hissing, grating) — from 'stridere' (to creak, to hiss). The sound of metal on metal, or cicadas in summer heat.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The alarm's strident ring cut through three floors of the building.
She had a strident quality when she felt she wasn't being heard — which made it harder for people to hear her.
A strident argument gets attention but rarely gets agreement — force is not the same as persuasion.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Strident” when the meaning fits your context: Loud and harsh — having a grating, shrill quality that forces itself on the attention. Also used of voices, arguments, or demands that are aggressively insistent.
Synonyms
harsh, shrill, piercing, grating, cacophonous
Antonyms
gentle, soft, mellifluous, quiet
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Hostile Disagreement Gesture
An individual uses pointed, angry gestures toward another person across a table, clearly demanding attention and dominance.
The aggressive, insistent body language captures the grating, shrill quality of strident speech, showing someone forcing their viewpoint upon others through sheer assertiveness.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Strident" mean?
Strident is adjective meaning: Loud, harsh, and unpleasantly insistent. Loud and harsh — having a grating, shrill quality that forces itself on the attention. Also used of voices, arguments, or demands that are aggressively insistent.
Where does the word "Strident" come from?
From Latin 'stridens' (creaking, hissing, grating) — from 'stridere' (to creak, to hiss). The sound of metal on metal, or cicadas in summer heat.