Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OBSTREPEROUS

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"OBSTREPEROUS" Pronunciation: "ub STREP er us" or "ob STREP er us" Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “an obstreperous child.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The child is obstreperous.”) Meaning: Something or someone obstreperous is noisy in an aggressive, rebellious way. More loosely, something or someone obstreperous won't obey and is very hard to control. Other forms: obstreperously, obstreperousness/obstreperosity Note: The roots help you remember the meaning. "Ob" means "against" (like in "obstacle") and "strep" means "to make a noise or rattle." So you can imagine obstreperous people and their obstreperous demands coming up against you all noisily. How to use it: Usually you talk about an obstreperous person ("this obstreperous customer," "his obstreperous nephew"), an obstreperous group of people ("a cluster of obstreperous teenagers," "that nation's obstreperous politicians"), or obstreperous behavior ("an obstreperous response," "her obstreperous refusal to listen.") Occasionally you might get more abstract and talk about an obstreperous culture, obstreperous leadership, obstreperous goals, and so on. And you often get obstreperous with someone or about some topic. I had a suite-mate in my freshman year of college who would get obstreperous and storm out of the room if her feelings were hurt. It was a little awkward. Comcast's reputation as an obstreperous company with atrocious customer service is legendary online. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "obstreperous" means when you can explain it without saying “unruly" or “clamorous." Think of a time you wanted to yell defiantly, and fill in the blanks: "It took some self-control to avoid getting obstreperous with (someone) about (something)." Example: "It took some self-control to avoid getting obstreperous with the restaurant staff about why they wouldn't remove the inedible dinners from the bill." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: Our game for July is called A Verbal Tour of the US. I’ll ask you a trivia question each day this month about the names of US cities, states, geographic features, etc. Try it out each day, and see the right answer the next day. Happy verbal trails to you! From yesterday:  The river that runs through the southwest and into Mexico is properly called “The Rio Grande,” and not “The Rio Grande River.” Why? Answer: Because “Rio Grande” is Spanish for “Big River,” the phrase “The Rio Grande River” would mean “The Big River River." Try this one today: There’s an Alaskan summit called “M____ Hill” that got its name when the military just needed a name starting with “M” to fit in with their system. The M-word they picked means “scruffy and shabby,” like a dirty animal. What’s the summit’s name? A Point Well Made: Bertolt Brecht: "Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer with which to shape it." 1. The opposite of OBSTREPEROUS is A. OBEDIENT B. HEALTHY C. DIRECT 2. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is obstreperous, quick to _____ A. learn everything her father tells her. B. escape into the yard to play with her brother and neighbor. C. talk back to her teacher and fight with her classmates. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C