ruckus

noun

ruck·​us

ˈrə-kəs,

 also  ˈrü-,

or

ˈru̇- 

plural ruckuses

1

: a noisy fight or disturbance : row, commotion

raise/cause/create a ruckus

heard a ruckus down the street

He went outside to see what all the ruckus was about.

The dogs … typically would set off quite a ruckus whenever they heard something in the woods …

—Larry Livermore

2

: a state or situation in which many people are angry or upset : fuss, uproar

… IHOP recently caused a social media ruckus after announcing it would change its name …

—Lauren Delgado

… the county's GOP is embroiled in a lively legal ruckus over an attempt to seize control of the party.

—Charles Burress

Synonyms

• affray [chiefly British]
• brawl
• broil
• donnybrook
• fracas
• fray
• free-for-all
• melee
• mêlée
• rough-and-tumble
• row
• ruction

Examples of ruckus in a Sentence

the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist

quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!

Recent Examples on the Web

The earlier ruckus began after Braun fouled Harden with 6.6 seconds left in the second quarter, causing a lot of pushing and shoving. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Given how tucked away and quiet the street is, coming and going from the space should cause as little ruckus as possible. —William Goodman, Robb Report, 1 May 2025

Game 5 will take place on Tuesday in front of what will be a ruckus New York crowd, whether the series is tied or if the Knicks have a chance to close out the series. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

After a ruckus Tuesday night, the plastic was shattered in several hallway exit signs. —Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of ruction and rumpus

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ruckus

• raise a ruckus

Rhymes for ruckus

• ficus
• picus

Kids Definition

ruckus

noun

ruck·​us ˈrək-əs 

ˈrük-,

ˈru̇k-

: row entry 4