strident

comparative more strident · superlative most strident

1. Loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding.

   The trumpet sounded strident against the string orchestra.

   1 more example

   But as they were upon going forth, a trumpet was sounded without, three strident blasts.

   1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 7

   Synonyms: stentorian

2. Grating or obnoxious.

   The artist chose a strident mixture of colors.

   1 more example

   If Demandt's essay served as a strident example of the German desire for normalcy, a more subtle example was provided by a brief allohistorical depiction of a Nazi victory in World War II written by German historian Michael Salewski in 1999.

   2005 May 23, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, The World Hitler Never Made: Alternate History and the Memory of Nazism, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 182

3. Forceful (typically in a negative way) or obtrusive.

   The impact of [Jimmy Carter's] anger [at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan] on his attitude is confirmed by the moderation in his attitude that occurred. Once the president's anger began to subside, he became less strident in his pronouncements and more uncertain of Soviet motives.

   2019 March 8, Dan Caldwell, Diplomacy, Force, And Leadership: Essays In Honor Of Alexander L. George, Routledge, →ISBN

4. nonstandardVigorous; making strides; forceful in a positive way.

   Under David Taylor's stewardship, the SFA has made strident progress.

   2003 November 6, Stuart Cosgrove, “Taylor slagging Saddam shame.”, in Daily Record, Glasgow, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2012

plural stridents

1. human sciencesOne of a class of s-like fricatives produced by an airstream directed at the upper teeth.