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

Adjective

• boisterous
• hell-raising
• knockabout
• rambunctious
• raucous
• robustious
• roisterous
• rollicking
• rumbustious [chiefly British]

Noun

• bully
• gangbanger
• gangsta
• gangster
• goon
• gorilla
• hood
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• mobster
• mug
• plug-ugly
• punk
• roughneck
• ruffian
• thug
• tough
• toughie
• toughy
• yob [British]
• yobbo [British]

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

There’s nothing more frustrating for a Londoner trying to get to work on time than having to push through rowdy crowds or dart between lost tourists. —Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum, getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. —Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 18 July 2024

Noun

The Horned Frogs have more talent and experience than the Buffaloes but will have to battle the heightened elevation and the rowdy, Colorado home-field advantage. —Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2022

Anna Kendrick, Michelle Yeoh, and Denzel Washington all got the same rowdy yet amiable energy. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 July 2022

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

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