WordWealth: obstreperous

ob·strep·er·ous , adj.

Nicholls's quietly accomplished biography explores Elspeth's marriage to Gervas Huxley (cousin of Aldous and Julian) and her close and combative bond with her mother (parent and child were equally brilliant and obstreperous), which was the central relationship of her life. But most important, Nicholls probes with great sensitivity Huxley's literary and emotional attachment to Africa (despite extended regular visits, Huxley lived outside the continent all her adult life, but her early experiences there clearly defined her, and she remained forever entranced by it) and her complex and evolving views toward it and British rule there. —— C. S. Nicholls St. Martin's in 'Elspeth Huxley'; the Atlantic/New and Noteworthy; Sept 2003

Powerful factors sustain the policy bias toward serious crime. After all, citizens do fear its dangers. Obstreperous youths may be bothersome, but unless obstreperousness turns into real danger to life and property, it is only that. All other things being equal, which they are not, it would make sense to concentrate on serious crime, especially in a world of limited resources. Two additional factors, each powerful in its own right, perpetuate the single-minded fixation on felonies: first, a broad societal ideology holds certain individual rights as absolute and virtually divorced from responsibility and obligation. —— George L. Kelling and Catherine M. Coles in 'Interview of Fixing Broken Windows'; the Atlantic; 1996; (read book: Fixing Broken Windows)

When he was ordered from above to expel two obstreperous comrades -- they insisted on challenging the leadership -- he found himself "caught between my Jeffersonian upbringing and my Party loyalty." —— William Herrick, 'Truth Was the Last Straw'; New York Times, July 12, 1987

He becomes obstreperous and truculent as an infant in need of an afternoon nap. —— James Doran, 'Bonus question raises ire of fund managers'; Times (London), April 19, 2001

Many booksellers . . . were reluctant to carry books that would attract the sometimes obstreperous youngsters who lived by rock and roll. —— Ray Walters, 'Paperback Talk'; New York Times, Sept 13, 1981

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