Literary notes about Strident (AI summary)
The word "strident" in literature is often used to evoke a forceful, piercing quality—whether describing a voice, a musical note, or even an environmental sound. It frequently connotes an abrasive and attention-demanding tone that can disrupt the ordinary, as seen when a fervent declaration is described with a “strident pitch” [1] or when a door’s creak is rendered harsh and unyielding [2]. Authors extend this usage to characterize emotional outbursts and electrifying moments; for instance, a character’s continuous, piercing laugh conveys hysteria and intensity [3], and even musical or mechanical sounds are imbued with stridency to accentuate their impact on the scene [4]. This deliberate choice of diction helps to create vivid auditory imagery and heighten dramatic tension.
- Insistence upon a metaphysical freedom of will is generally at its most strident pitch with those who despise knowledge of matters-of-fact.
— from Human Nature and Conduct: An introduction to social psychology by John Dewey - The larchwood doors of the chamber grated on their hinges with a sharp creak, prolonged and strident.
— from Romantic legends of Spain by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer - Emma began to laugh, a strident, piercing, continuous laugh; she had an attack of hysterics.
— from Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - His bluff strident words struck the note sailors understand, and they cheered him lustily.
— from Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie
