rowdy

play

adjective row·dy \ ˈrau̇-dē \

Definition of rowdy

rowdier; rowdiest

:coarse or boisterous in behavior :rough; also :characterized by such behavior

rowdy local bars

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rowdily

play \ˈrau̇-dᵊl-ē\ adverb

—

rowdiness

play \ˈrau̇-dē-nəs\ noun

—

rowdyish

play \-ish\ adjective

See rowdy defined for English-language learners

See rowdy defined for kids

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

a rowdy game of basketball
a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers

Recent Examples of rowdy from the Web

Girls Trip R Four friends head to New Orleans for the Annual Essence Festival and their good time is only surpassed by their rowdy performances.

— guy hanford, Ramona Sentinel, "Flickers: Bruce Lee challenges kung fu master in 'Birth of the Dragon'," 25 Aug. 2017
Apparently, back in 1987, there was a rowdy running group in Long Beach California called the Hash House Harriers.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "Big changes to the 2017 Red Dress Run: New location, route," 1 Aug. 2017
The Indians, no less rowdy, have gone one better with a half-stadium for 15,000.

— The Economist, "Hissing cousinsWhy India and Pakistan hate each other," 22 July 2017
There are no shortage of incidents involving a rowdy passenger who tries to burst open the emergency exits — and no shortage of cabin crew who have their own stories about trying to subdue passengers.

— cailey rizzo, Fox News, "What happens when the emergency exit door opens mid-flight?," 18 July 2017
Even with such a booming voice, Boo was able to wrangle herself in to control her delivery on songs packed with rowdy men.

— AL.com, "These are the women in southern hip-hop you should know," 14 July 2017
Nannying for three rowdy kids or doing yard work all day is hard! 10.

— hannah orenstein, Seventeen, "13 Things Every Girl With a Summer Job Can Relate To," 10 July 2017
The Associated Press described Laganas, the village where the bar is located, as an area known for rowdy behavior by young tourists.

— kristine phillips, ajc, "A 22-year-old American tourist was beaten to death in bar fight in Greece, authorities say," 8 July 2017
After rowdy crowds prompted safety concerts, Humble Pie was forced to stop its performance.

— mckenna oxenden, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Summerfest's 50th edition exhibit offers concert-goers chance to dive into past festivals," 1 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of rowdy

perhaps irregular from ⁵row

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1832

See Words from the same year

rowdy Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

orderly

Near Antonyms

sedate, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid; decorous, dignified, proper, seemly; calm, hushed, noiseless, peaceful, placid, quiet, restrained, serene, silent, soundless, tranquil; collected, composed, constrained, controlled, imperturbable, inhibited, repressed, self-controlled, unflappable, unruffled; moderate, reasonable, subdued, temperate; impassive, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; depressed; aloof, detached, indifferent

rowdy

noun

Definition of rowdy

plural rowdies

:a rowdy person :tough

See rowdy defined for English-language learners

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of rowdy from the Web

The fourth position in the Eastern Conference and the accompanying right to host a USL playoff game is just seven points out of reach as the Tampa Bay Rowdies have the spot currently with 38 points.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati seeks to right ship in 1st match vs. Ottawa," 22 Aug. 2017
Rowdies owner Bill Edwards wants to rebuild Al Lang Stadium, which sits alongside the St. Petersburg harbor.

— brian straus, SI.com, "MLS expansion race began with 12, but will enough viable bids even emerge?," 23 June 2017
Appalled at how absurdly little legislative progress has been made this year—despite unified GOP control of the government—the ultra-conservative rowdies are pushing for the unthinkable: a cancellation of Congress’s summer break.

— michelle cottle, The Atlantic, "Vacation's All They Ever Wanted," 17 June 2017
Jack Whitehall plays passive hero Paul Pennyfeather, a divinity student expelled from Oxford for reasons beyond his control — his clothes were removed by rowdies — and forced to find work.

— robert lloyd, latimes.com, "'Decline and Fall' brings the macabre (yet elegant) school yardcomedy of Evelyn Waugh to life," 15 May 2017
Sunday Rowdies: (M) Leonard Carter 692; (W) Jamie Heintz 589.

— johnny gorches, Post-Tribune, "Post-Tribune Bowling Scores," 3 May 2017
The president of The Edwards Group (led by Rowdies owner Bill Edwards) knows a thing or two about elections.

— brian straus, SI.com, "MLS expansion latest: Tampa Bay's vote; Beckham's new investor; a pulse for St. Louis?," 28 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of rowdy

1865

rowdy Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

cutthroat, scoundrel, villain; assassin, bandit, bravo, brigand, criminal, crook, desperado, felon, gunman, highwayman, lawbreaker, mafioso, malefactor, offender, outlaw, perp, perpetrator, pirate; pickpocket, racketeer, robber, swindler, thief, vandal; juvenile delinquent, tearaway [British]

ROWDY Defined for English Language Learners

rowdy

play

adjective

Definition of rowdy for English Language Learners

: rough or noisy

rowdy

noun

Definition of rowdy for English Language Learners

: a person who causes trouble in a noisy way

ROWDY Defined for Kids

rowdy

play

adjective row·dy \ ˈrau̇-dē \

Definition of rowdy for Students

rowdier; rowdiest

:rough or noisy

rowdy baseball fans

—

rowdiness

noun

rowdy

noun

Definition of rowdy for Students

plural rowdies

:a person who behaves coarsely or roughly

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rowdy

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ROWDY Defined for English Language Learners

rowdy

Definition of rowdy for English Language Learners

rowdy

Definition of rowdy for English Language Learners

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