rash

noun

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\ ˈrash

Definition of rash

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : an eruption on the body

2 : a large number of instances in a short period a rash of complaints

rash

adjective

Definition of rash (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : marked by or proceeding from undue haste or lack of deliberation or caution a rash promise

2 obsolete : quickly effective

rash

adverb

Definition of rash (Entry 3 of 3)

archaic

: in a rash manner

Other Words from rash Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about rash

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Choose the Right Synonym for rash

Adjective

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense. adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence. adventurous pioneers venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings. venturesome stunt pilots daring implies fearlessness in courting danger. daring mountain climbers daredevil stresses ostentation in daring. daredevil motorcyclists rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought. a rash decision reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences. a reckless driver foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense. the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Did You Know?

Adjective

The earliest known uses of "rash" (then spelled "rasch") occur in a northern dialect of 15th-century Middle English. Its earlier origins are not known for sure, though it is clearly related to a number of similar words in the Germanic languages, including Old High German rasc ("fast, hurried, strong, clever"), Old Norse "röskr" ("brave, vigorous"), and Middle Dutch "rasch" ("quick, nimble, agile, vigorous"). It is not, however, related to the English noun "rash" ("an eruption on the body," as in a "skin rash"). The noun "rash," which first appeared in English in the 1700s, comes by way of French and Vulgar Latin from Latin rasus, the past participle of "radere" ("to scrape" or "to shave").

Examples of rash in a Sentence

Noun The baby has a skin rash. The doctor said she developed the rash because of the medicine. I break out in a rash if I eat shellfish. Symptoms of the disease include rash and fever. There has been a rash of robberies in the city this summer. Adjective Their rash actions resulted in a serious accident that could have killed someone. Don't be rash about this decision. Take your time. It was rash of you to make that promise.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But Godwin’s staging makes clear by physical proximity and by judicious intercutting that these elements are related: Romeo and Juliet’s passion is as rash and irrational as the other characters’ repression and violence. — New York Times, "Review: ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Cut in Half and Twice as Good," 22 Apr. 2021 According to the article published this morning, scientists in Israel allegedly identified six cases of patients developing a skin rash known as herpes zoster, also known as shingles, after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. — Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, "No, The COVID Vaccine Won’t Give You Herpes," 21 Apr. 2021 This was the message purveyed in a rash of new romance comics and magazines aimed specifically at young women, with titles such as Young Romance and Young Love. — Carol Dyhouse, Time, "What the Rise and Fall of the Cinderella Fairy Tale Means for Real Women Today," 19 Apr. 2021 Anyone who develops an unusual or severe headache during this time, severe abdominal pain or a painful, swollen leg, possibly accompanied by a skin rash of tiny reddish-purple spots, should seek immediate medical attention, Marks said. — Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, "Scientists begin to unravel rare blood clotting disorder connected to J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines," 8 Apr. 2021 But Cleveland police are being criticized for not chasing suspects in a rash of 30 carjackings that terrorized Tremont residents. — Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, "Sign-ups open today for Ohio’s first mass vaccination center: The Wake Up for Thursday, March 11, 2021," 11 Mar. 2021 From 1979 and 1981 in Atlanta, 29 black children and young adults were killed in a rash a violence that terrorized the city. — Ben Brasch, ajc, "Atlanta Child Murder victims to be honored with wall, ‘eternal flame’," 2 Feb. 2021 Released in January 2018, trouble found Johnson again a year later when he was implicated in a rash of car burglaries in Martin County. — Eileen Kelley, sun-sentinel.com, "A drifter with a long criminal history showed up to pound on a disabled man’s door," 19 Dec. 2020 Two Pearl River area men suspected in a rash of catalytic converter thefts from vehicles across St. Tammany Parish were arrested recently after an investigation by detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Property Crimes Division. — Sara Pagones | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, "Pair accused of stealing, selling more than 300 catalytic converters from vehicles in St. Tammany," 30 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Janet Yellen and current Fed chair Jerome Powell, will not do anything rash that risks jeopardizing the recovery of the economy or market. — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, "The last Roaring Twenties ended in disaster. Should investors be worried?," 25 Apr. 2021 Many who attended Tuesday’s gathering said the city’s temporary decision is a rash response to the March 12 and April 13 shootings at the park. — Kaylee Remington, cleveland, "Lakewood residents play hoops in Madison Park in protest of city’s decision to remove basketball hoops after recent shootings," 21 Apr. 2021 But no other natural disaster provoked by humans following rash decisions based on inadequate knowledge of natural relationships will ever be able to rival what Mao Tse-Tung accomplished in the late 1950s. — Longreads, "Why Bumblebees Love Cats and Other Beautiful Relationships," 23 Mar. 2021 This vagueness is meant to discourage rash moves by Taiwanese politicians and avoid enraging China. — The Economist, "China faces fateful choices, especially involving Taiwan," 20 Feb. 2021 To some election law experts, calling for the Supreme Court to intervene now seemed premature, if not rash. — Mark Sherman, Anchorage Daily News, "Judges in Georgia, Michigan dismiss Trump campaign claims of vote-counting irregularities," 5 Nov. 2020 To some election law experts, calling for the Supreme Court to intervene now seemed premature, if not rash. — Mark Sherman, Anchorage Daily News, "Judges in Georgia, Michigan dismiss Trump campaign claims of vote-counting irregularities," 5 Nov. 2020 Ultimately, Armstrong tells people not to do anything too rash during this moment of exuberance. — Robert Hackett, Fortune, "Coinbase CEO issues a warning to investors about Bitcoin risk," 17 Dec. 2020 To some election law experts, calling for the Supreme Court to intervene now seemed premature, if not rash. — Mark Sherman, Anchorage Daily News, "Judges in Georgia, Michigan dismiss Trump campaign claims of vote-counting irregularities," 5 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Whatever is causing the left-hander to pitch terribly away from home this season, the Giants need to address this road rash sooner rather than later. — Andrew Baggarly, The Mercury News, "Matt Moore implodes, Giants crushed 13-5 at Dodger Stadium," 2 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rash.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for rash

Noun

probably borrowed from 17th-century French rache, rasche, going back to Middle French raiche "tinea," noun derivative of racher "to chisel, groove (metal)" (probably also "to scrape, scratch," senses attested in Romance cognates), going back to Vulgar Latin *rāsicāre, verb derivative from Latin rās-, participial and nominal stem of rādere "to scrape, scratch, shave" — more at rase

Adverb

Middle English (northern dialect) rasch quickly; akin to Old High German rasc fast

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