What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
strident
Example
The strident sound of the alarm clock woke me up suddenly. [strident: adjective]
Example
She spoke in a strident tone that made everyone uncomfortable. [strident: adjective]
Example
His strident views on politics often caused arguments with his friends. [strident: adjective]
grating
Example
The grating sound of the metal scraping against the pavement made my skin crawl. [grating: adjective]
Example
He had a grating voice that made it hard to listen to him for long periods. [grating: adjective]
Example
Her constant complaining was starting to become grating and annoying. [grating: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grating is more commonly used than strident in everyday language. Grating is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while strident is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between strident and grating?
Both strident and grating are considered formal words and are not typically used in casual conversation. However, grating may be slightly more informal due to its wider range of contexts and usage.
