earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.
the earsplitting sound of a siren
raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.
the raucous shouts of drunken revelers
strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.
the strident voices of hecklers
Example Sentences
She complained in a loud voice. “Is the television loud enough?” “It's too loud!” He's known for being loud and aggressive.
Recent Examples on the WebThe diagnostic company sent me an email with a big color-wheel infographic that displayed nearly all my results as green (good), but my lipid data as a very loud orange (not good). Peter Flax, Outside Online, 9 Sep. 2022 Darvas has leaned into Hunter’s love for horror, so there’s an often-frantic pacing to the storytelling and a lot of shouting and loud noises. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 As Avila lay motionless, unable to speak loud enough to be heard, some of her students nudged and shook her. Acacia Coronado, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2022 Street style photographers made careers out of spotting the most outrageous looks outside global fashion weeks, making people dress to their own tune, if albeit loud one, in order to guarantee a snap. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2022 It’s a proudly loud metal concert in the Rammstein tradition, generating noise complaints from as far as 11 miles away. Tristram Lozaw, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Nestled between old auto shops on Florida Avenue, Rooster & the Till is a charmingly loud and busy modern American restaurant. Annalise Mabe, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 The hope is that the loud, potentially distracting ruckus will prepare the Bearcats for the chaotic scene that is expected to greet them Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Keith Jenkins, The Enquirer, 1 Sep. 2022 However, the machine received low marks from our testers for slow output, taking over 10 minutes to create nine cubes, and for having an excessively loud fan. Tanya Edwards, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English hlūd; akin to Old High German hlūt loud, Latin inclutus famous, Greek klytos, Sanskrit śṛṇoti he hears
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of loud was before the 12th century