roll·er-coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 
ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-
: marked by numerous ups and downs
an entertainer's roller-coaster career
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
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
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025
For analysts at Vanguard, the investment firm, the roller-coaster ride provided a timely opportunity to study how investors behave when the going gets tough.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
The emotional roller coaster ends with a wide shot of Ellie and her patrol partner Jesse (Young Mazino) towing Joel’s body toward Jackson burning in the distance.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
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Adjective
Listen to this article The turmoil in the U.S. stock market has retirees and people thinking about retiring anxious about the roller-coaster ride the value of their retirement plans are taking.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025
For analysts at Vanguard, the investment firm, the roller-coaster ride provided a timely opportunity to study how investors behave when the going gets tough.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
Wall Street has been on a roller coaster, the federal workforce is being slashed, diversity programs and even paper straws have been banned across the federal government, wide-ranging tariffs have been implemented and there’s been a nationwide crackdown on immigration.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
The emotional roller coaster ends with a wide shot of Ellie and her patrol partner Jesse (Young Mazino) towing Joel’s body toward Jackson burning in the distance.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roller-coaster
Cite this Entry
“Roller-coaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roller coaster
noun
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll
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