- Today's Word
Vociferous
voh-SIF-er-uhs
Definition
- (adjective) Crying out noisily; loud, forceful, and insistent in speech or behavior.
Example
The vociferous crowd at the protest could be heard blocks away.
Fun Fact
“Vociferous” combines the Latin vox (voice) and ferre (to carry), literally meaning “to carry the voice.” The word doesn’t just mean loud—it implies passion, persistence, and refusal to be ignored. It’s often used to describe activists, critics, or fans who make their presence known—loudly and clearly.
(adjective) Eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant and quick to confront.
The truculent customer refused every solution the staff offered, seeming more interested in the argument itself than in any actual resolution.
Truculent comes from the Latin truculentus, meaning “fierce” or “savage,” derived from trux meaning “wild” or “cruel.” It entered English in the 16th century, initially describing something literally savage or brutal, before settling into its modern meaning of aggressive confrontational behavior and a hair-trigger readiness to fight or argue.