• Today's Word

Raucous

🔊 Listen to the word Raucous

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Definition

(adjective) Loud, harsh, and disorderly; boisterous in a rough or disruptive way.

Example

The forest erupted in a raucous chorus of crows as hikers approached the clearing.

Word Origin

From Latin raucus, meaning “hoarse” or “harsh-sounding.”

Fun Fact

Raucous describes more than just volume — it captures texture. The word is often used for sounds that are gritty or abrasive: shouting crowds, squabbling birds, rowdy laughter, or stormy winds tearing through branches. In nature writing, it’s a favorite term to evoke the wild, unpolished clamor of life that refuses to be quiet.