strident

/ˈstraɪdnt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstraɪdnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstrī-dᵊnt/ (ame, mw)

strident — 形容詞

  • stridentpositive
  • more stridentcomparative
  • most stridentsuperlative

1. If a sound is strident, it has a sharp, harsh quality that makes people feel unc

1.形容詞B2
釋義

刺耳

聲音高亢刺耳令人不快的

If a sound is strident, it has a sharp, harsh quality that makes people feel uncomfortable and want to move away from it.

例句

The strident sound of the fire alarm made everyone cover their ears.

火災警報器刺耳的聲音讓每個人都捂住耳朵。

strident + sound / noise / alarm for unpleasant loudness

Dr. Okafor had to shout to be heard above the strident noise of the construction drills next door.

Okafor 醫師必須提高音量大喊，才能壓過隔壁建築工地的鑽孔機發出的刺耳噪音。

同義詞
  • shrill

    emphasises high pitch more than strident does

  • raucous

    suggests loud, rough, and disorderly sound, often from crowds or voices

  • grating

    focuses on the irritating quality rather than the volume

  • harsh

    broader term; less intense and less specific than strident

反義詞
  • soft

    quiet and gentle in sound

  • mellow

    smooth and pleasantly rich in tone

用法筆記

This sense is mostly used for sounds made by machines, alarms, or musical instruments — not usually for natural sounds like thunder or wind.

常見錯誤

❌The thunder was strident.
✅The siren was strident.
💡'strident' describes harsh, grating mechanical sounds, not deep natural rumbling.
❌A strident whisper
✅A strident shout
💡a whisper cannot be strident because strident sounds must be loud and forceful.

2. Strident language or public statements express opinions very directly and forcef

2.形容詞C1
釋義

強硬

言辭直接且強勢的

Strident language or public statements express opinions very directly and forcefully, without trying to be polite or to avoid upsetting people.

例句

The newspaper published a strident editorial calling for the mayor to resign immediately.

該報刊登了一篇措辭強硬的社論，要求市長立即辭職。

strident + editorial / article / statement for forceful expression

Dr. Rivera grew increasingly strident in her criticism of the university's budget cuts.

Rivera 博士對大學預算刪減的批評變得越來越強硬。

同義詞
  • vociferous

    suggests loud and determined protesting; stronger on volume than strident

  • outspoken

    neutral or positive; lacks the aggressive tone of strident

  • vehement

    shows strong feeling but not necessarily harshness

  • blunt

    direct to the point of rudeness, but without the loudness of strident

反義詞

文法句型

strident + in + noun / gerund

用法筆記

Often used in political or social commentary contexts. Unlike sense 1, this sense applies to the style of expression rather than the quality of a sound.

常見錯誤

❌She gave a strident hug.
✅She gave a strident speech.
💡'strident' cannot describe physical actions or gestures, only language or expression.
❌His strident behavior in the queue.
✅His strident complaints about the queue.
💡use for spoken or written expression, not general behaviour.

3. A strident person expresses their opinions in an aggressive, confrontational way

3.形容詞C1
釋義

強勢

堅持己見不顧他人態度的

A strident person expresses their opinions in an aggressive, confrontational way, pushing others to accept their views without caring whether it annoys or offends them.

例句

At the school board meeting, the most strident voices belonged to parents demanding that the cancelled bus routes be reinstated.

在校務會議上，態度最強勢的聲音來自那些要求恢復被取消的校車路線的家長。

strident + voice / person for character description

Elena became increasingly strident in her demands for safer working conditions at the factory.

Elena 對工廠安全條件的訴求變得越來越強勢，不肯讓步。

同義詞
  • insistent

    less aggressive; simply refuses to give up

  • militant

    stronger, often implies readiness to fight or take action

  • tenacious

    positive or neutral; focuses on persistence rather than harshness

  • unyielding

    emphasises refusal to compromise more than verbal force

反義詞

文法句型

strident + in + noun / gerund

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 describes language or writing, while sense 3 describes a person's character or behaviour. A person can use strident language (sense 2) without being a strident person (sense 3).

常見錯誤

❌The strident dog barked all night.
✅The strident campaigner refused to back down.
💡'strident' for a person requires conscious determination, not animal instinct.
❌He is strident about his favourite food.
✅He is strident about human rights.
💡'strident' implies a serious, often moral or political, insistence, not a personal preference.