rough-and-tumble

1 of 2

noun

rough-and-tum·​ble ˌrə-fən-ˈtəm-bəl 

: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling

also : infighting

rough-and-tumble

2 of 2

adjective

1

: marked by rough-and-tumble

grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphere

—E. J. Kahn

also : rough-and-ready

2

: put together haphazardly : makeshift

a rough-and-tumble fence

Synonyms

Noun

• brawl
• clash

Adjective

• rough
• clumsy
• crude
• rude
• rough-and-ready
• primitive

Examples of rough-and-tumble in a Sentence

Noun

a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands

Adjective

the announcement of his candidacy was made from a rough-and-tumble stage put together just that morning

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Encounters with protest—as participants, observers, or opponents of it—are useful parts of learning for students who will eventually leave their campuses for a fractious, rough-and-tumble political world. —Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025

The pride in Plough’s expressions and the tone of his voice was reflective of the theme that every victory is to be savored in this rough-and-tumble sport, one in which no one weeps for the wounded. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The trappings of the Senate were another world from Mr. Abourezk’s rough-and-tumble childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where his Lebanese parents had immigrated and ran a general store. —Stephen Groves, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023

The startup’s rough-and-tumble experiments are even more telling. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 24 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rough-and-tumble

• bumble
• crumble
• fumble
• grumble
• humble
• jumble
• mumble
• rumble
• stumble
• tumble
• umbel