Stridulent is an adjective that describes a sound that is loud, HARSH, and unpleasant. It is derived from the Latin word stridulus, which means 'CREAKING.' The crossword solutions for this term are HARSH (5 letters) and GRATING (7 letters). These words both describe sounds that are unpleasant and irritating to the ear. HARSH can refer to any sound that is loud and unpleasant, while GRATING implies a sound that is especially irritating or discordant.