Obstreperousness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being noisy and difficult to control is indicative of a disruptive temperament
2. A state characterized by persistent unruliness and loud behavior often leads to strained interactions
3. Exhibiting a disposition that is both boisterous and unmanageable can result in chaotic environments

Etymology: Obstreperousness is a plain English formation: the adjective "obstreperous" with the suffix "-ness" attached, which turns a quality into a noun. The adjective itself was borrowed from Latin "obstreperus," a word built from "ob-" ("against") and "strepere" ("to make a noise"). The Latin sense was literally noisy resistance, so the root meaning is something like making a racket against something. That noisy core is what gives the word its flavour. A Latin "obstreperus" was a loud, clamorous thing, and the English adjective kept that sense of boisterous defiance. Adding "-ness" yields the abstract idea of the trait itself, which is why the noun describes a disposition rather than a single act. The suffix "-ness" is an old Germanic ending that English has used for centuries to form nouns from adjectives.

Synonyms: disorderliness, unruliness

Antonyms: obedience, compliance