rowdy

1 of 2

adjective

row·​dy ˈrau̇-dē 

rowdier; rowdiest

: coarse or boisterous in behavior : rough

also : characterized by such behavior

rowdy local bars

rowdily

ˈrau̇-də-lē 

adverb

rowdiness

ˈrau̇-dē-nəs 

noun

rowdyish

ˈrau̇-dē-ish 

adjective

rowdy

2 of 2

noun

plural rowdies

: a rowdy person : tough

Synonyms of rowdy

Adjective

• boisterous
• raucous
• rambunctious
• lively
• noisy
• violent
• rollicking
• rumbustious
• robustious

Noun

• thug
• criminal
• tough
• gangster
• hooligan
• pirate
• bandit
• ruffian
• villain

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

Adjective

a rowdy game of basketball

a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers

Noun

rowdies had overtaken the neighborhood and were threatening people on the street

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

World powers, the sport’s biggest superstars and historically rowdy fanbases were all sent to DFW to put on a show. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

With hooliganism rife in English soccer in the 1980s, a narrative blaming drunken, ticketless and rowdy Liverpool fans was created by police, and was only overturned by years of campaigning by victims’ families. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

As soccer fans well know, hooligans are rowdy gangs that engage in violent behavior on game days. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

The Carnaval de Guaranda, for instance, takes inspiration from a rowdy annual fiesta held in the Bolivar Province and is made with vodka, hops, figs, white truffle, turmeric, and a local moonshine called pájaro azul. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

perhaps irregular from row entry 5

First Known Use

Adjective

1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rowdy

• cloudy
• dowdy
• howdy

Kids Definition

rowdy

1 of 2 adjective

row·​dy ˈrau̇d-ē 

rowdier; rowdiest

: rough or loud in behavior

rowdiness noun

rowdy

2 of 2 noun

plural rowdies

: a rowdy person