1
a
: marked by intensity or volume of sound
loud music
b
: producing a loud sound
the marten was loud beside themDavid Walker
2
: clamorous, noisy
a loud crowd of people
3
: obtrusive or offensive in appearance or smell : obnoxious
the loudest pinstripe suit in historyJohn O'Reilly
loud adverb
loudly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for loud

loud, stentorian, earsplitting, raucous, strident mean marked by intensity or volume of sound.

loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

loud shouts of protest

stentorian implies great power and range.

an actor with a stentorian voice

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

Examples of loud in a Sentence

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 Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the chaos, one person stands out—not by speaking the loudest, but by knowing when to listen, when to intervene and when to lead with clarity and conviction. Kiran Mann, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 Portola overcame a loud home crowd and spirit band, a taller opponent and foul trouble to collect a wire-to-wire 57-49 victory in a Division II second round game at El Capitan High. Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025 At a festival where the moviegoers at Austin’s Paramount Theatre on Congress Avenue scream as loud as those at a Harry Styles concert, look for the Motion Picture Association to create waves. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025 In the new court filing, phone records show Mortensen tried calling the other four roommates – but got no response – around the time when security camera from a residence close to the home picked up at 4:17 a.m. distorted audio of voices, a whimper, followed by a loud thud, and a barking dog. Lauren Del Valle, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loud

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loud. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

loud

adjective
1
a
: marked by a high volume of sound
b
: producing a loud sound
2
3
: unpleasantly bold or bright in color or pattern
a loud plaid
loud adverb
loudly adverb
loudness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on loud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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