roller-coaster

adjective

roll·er-coast·er | \ ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər

, ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-\

Definition of roller-coaster

(Entry 1 of 2)

: marked by numerous ups and downs an entertainer's roller-coaster career

roller coaster

noun

roll·er coast·er | \ ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər

, ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-\

Definition of roller coaster (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll

2 : something resembling a roller coaster especially : behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes an emotional roller coaster

Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence

Noun

We went for a ride on the roller coaster. The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

To say Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson’s relationship has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. — Sara Delgado, Teen Vogue, "Did Ariana Grande Subtweet Pete Davidson After He Joked About Her on SNL?," 2 Nov. 2018 Slinky Dog Dash From his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit, Andy has assembled his roller coaster for maximum family fun. — Shelley Caran, ajc, "Everything you need to know about Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios," 29 June 2018 This is not the first time Six Flags has suffered mechanical issues on its roller coasters. — Monica Rodriguez, Fortune, "Six Flags Roller Coaster Stuck at Peak Leaves Riders Stranded," 19 June 2018 The property included a private amusement park with a ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, bumper cars, and an arcade, as well as two steam locomotives. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Neverland Ranch Is Back on the Market, Here's Everything You Need to Know," 6 Mar. 2019 Okay, maybe not, but here’s a fun one: This cozy two-bedroom cabin in the Michigan woods was built using wood from a historic roller coaster at the nearby Silver Beach Amusement Park. — Alex Bazeley, Curbed, "Cozy cabin built from historic rollercoaster asks $190K," 10 Aug. 2018 Daytona Beach firefighters are rescuing riders after a roller coaster at the Boardwalk derailed, according to the department. — David Harris, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Firefighters rescuing riders from derailed roller coaster in Daytona Beach," 15 June 2018 The new triple-launch looping roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego may sit on a small footprint, but don’t let its compact size fool you: Electric Eel delivers a thrilling jolt. — Brady Macdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SeaWorld’s Electric Eel coaster squeezes a lot of excitement into a tight space," 10 May 2018 Raanta has enjoyed the ride this season, even if it's been a roller coaster at times. — Richard Morin, azcentral, "Arizona Coyotes keep No. 1 goalie Antti Raanta with 3-year contract extension," 6 Apr. 2018

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