clamor

¹

[ klam-er ]

noun

1. a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people:

   the clamor of the crowd at the gates.

2. a vehement expression of desire or dissatisfaction:

   the clamor of the proponents of the law.

   Synonyms: vociferation

3. popular outcry:

   The senators could not ignore the clamor against higher taxation.

4. any loud and continued noise: the clamor of birds and animals in the zoo.

   the clamor of traffic;

   the clamor of birds and animals in the zoo.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a clamor; raise an outcry.

verb (used with object)

1. to drive, force, influence, etc., by clamoring:

   The newspapers clamored him out of office.

2. to utter noisily:

   They clamored their demands at the meeting.

clamor

²

[ klam-er ]

verb (used with object)

, Obsolete.

1. to silence.

Spelling Note

See -or.

Other Words From

• clam·or·er clam·or·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clamor¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English clamor (from Anglo-French ), from Latin, equivalent to clām- ( claim ) + -or -or ¹; Middle English clamour, from Middle French, from Latin clāmōr- (stem of clāmor )

Origin of clamor²

First recorded in 1605–15; perhaps spelling variant of clammer, obsolete variant of clamber in sense “to clutch,” hence “reduce to silence”

Synonym Study

See noise.

Example Sentences

The people are clamoring for you to put it on streaming services.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the current approach amounts to mismanagement and is “making the rules optional each time water contractors clamor for more water.”

From Los Angeles Times

Katz helped Rose through two divorces, an uncontested paternity suit filed by a woman claiming to have been his mistress, government liens, tax troubles and his unceasing clamor for reinstatement.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite loss of the band's bassist and the animosity between Morrissey and Marr, fans are still clamoring for the Smiths will ever get back together.

From Salon

He's been running a shadow government, with GOP officials rushing to get his permission before they take any action and everyone clamoring for his dispensation in their campaigns.

From Salon

Related Words

• agitation
• brouhaha
• buzz
• ferment
• hubbub
• noise
• outcry
• ruckus
• tumult
• upheaval
• uproar