If you use strident to describe someone or the way they express themselves, you mean that they make their feelings or opinions known in a very strong way that perhaps makes people uncomfortable.
[disapproval]
...the unnecessarily strident tone of the Prime Minister's remarks.
Demands for his resignation have become more and more strident.
Synonyms: forceful, offensive, hostile, belligerent More Synonyms of strident
stridentlygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
He was arrested in 1984 on suspicion of being a spy–a charge he stridently denies.
In the late 1920s the party began to adopt a more stridently nationalistic posture.
2. adjective
If a voice or sound is strident, it is loud, harsh, and unpleasant to listen to.
She tried to laugh, and the sound was harsh and strident.
He could hear Hilton's strident voice rising in vehement argument with Houston.
Synonyms: harsh, jarring, grating, clashing More Synonyms of strident
strident in British English
(ˈstraɪdənt)
adjective
1.
(of a shout, voice, etc) having or making a loud or harsh sound
2.
urgent, clamorous, or vociferous
strident demands
Derived forms
stridence (ˈstridence) or stridency (ˈstridency)
noun
stridently (ˈstridently)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin strīdēns, from strīdēre to make a grating sound
strident in American English
(ˈstraɪdənt)
adjective
harsh-sounding; shrill; grating
SIMILAR WORDS: voˈciferous
Derived forms
stridence (ˈstridence)
noun or ˈstridency
stridently (ˈstridently)
adverb
Word origin
L stridens, prp. of stridere, to make a grating noise, rasp < IE echoic base *(s)trei- > Gr trizein, to chirp, screech, L strix, screech owl
Examples of 'strident' in a sentence
strident
It sounds outspoken and strident because we are not used to religion being criticised.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But her tone was often strident and abrasive.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
They are increasingly strident in their belief that something new needs to be tried.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Its tone has become strident and combative.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most of the time his voice was loud and strident.
Christianity Today (2000)
She was a good woman with a strident voice who was very much involved with the revolutionary process.
Carlos Acosta No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer's Tale (2007)
She could not understand the concept of popular will and therefore chose to ignore an increasingly strident voice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Otherwise, demands for resignations sound strident as well as fatuous.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The alarm clock's strident ringing tone can be a shock to the body and mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are increasingly strident and public calls for him to say when he's going.
The Sun (2006)
Her voice was strident and imperious and the clothes weren't exactly demure.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Not in a loud and strident way; just enough to look away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Ellel's strident voice reached them as they neared the door.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
In fact his increasingly strident denials that a deal is in the offing suggest that the prospect is alarming voters, as it should.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He more or less abandoned the attempt to frame an argument, letting himself be carried along by a gush of increasingly strident rhetoric.
Kimball, Roger Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Higher Education (1990)
And, as further price rises are announced, public demands for action over electricity pricing are likely to become more strident.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Germany afford to become with an economy assessed as one of the world's most corrupt and a Government that could soon take on more strident nationalist tones?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
strident
British English: strident ADJECTIVE
If you use strident to describe someone or the way they express themselves, you mean that they make their feelings or opinions known in a very strong way that perhaps makes people uncomfortable.
What are the grounds for this strident criticism?
American English: strident
Brazilian Portuguese: estridente
Chinese: 强硬的
European Spanish: estridente
French: véhément
German: scharf
Italian: energico
Japanese: 執拗な
Korean: 귀에 거슬리는
European Portuguese: estridente
Latin American Spanish: estridente
1 (adjective)
Definition
loud, persistent, and forceful
the unnecessarily strident tone of the President's remarks
Synonyms
forceful
offensive
The troops were in an offensive position.
hostile
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.
belligerent
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
pugnacious
He was in a pugnacious mood when he spoke to us.
destructive
Try to give constructive rather than destructive criticism.
quarrelsome
a quarrelsome young man
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a voice or sound) loud and harsh
She tried to laugh, and the sound was harsh and strident.
Synonyms
harsh
He gave a loud, harsh laugh.
jarring
a jarring, nasal voice
grating
I can't stand that grating voice of his.
clashing
screeching
raucous
the raucous cries of the sea-birds
shrill
the shrill whistle of the engine
rasping
Both men sang in a deep raspy tone.
jangling
discordant
They produced a discordant sound.
clamorous
unmusical
stridulant
stridulous
Opposites
soft
,
quiet
,
sweet
,
gentle
,
soothing
,
mellow
,
harmonious
,
mellifluous
,
dulcet
Additional synonyms
in the sense of belligerent
Definition
marked by readiness to fight
He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.
Synonyms
aggressive,
hostile,
contentious,
combative,
unfriendly,
antagonistic,
pugnacious,
argumentative,
bellicose,
quarrelsome,
aggro (Australian, New Zealand),
aggers (Australian, slang),
biffo (Australian, slang),
litigious
in the sense of destructive
Definition
intended to discredit, esp. without positive suggestions or help
Try to give constructive rather than destructive criticism.
Synonyms
negative,
hostile,
discouraging,
undermining,
contrary,
vicious,
adverse,
discrediting,
disparaging,
antagonistic,
derogatory
in the sense of discordant
Definition
harsh in sound
They produced a discordant sound.
Synonyms
harsh,
jarring,
grating,
strident,
shrill,
jangling,
dissonant,
cacophonous,
inharmonious,
unmelodious
Synonyms of 'strident'
strident
Explore 'strident' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grating
Definition
annoying or irritating
I can't stand that grating voice of his.
Synonyms
irritating,
grinding,
harsh,
annoying,
jarring,
unpleasant,
scraping,
raucous,
strident,
squeaky,
rasping,
discordant,
disagreeable,
irksome
in the sense of hostile
Definition
unfriendly and aggressive
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.