How to Use rough-and-tumble in a Sentence
rough-and-tumble
noun-
But why would these rough-and-tumble teenagers suddenly break into song?
—Melena Ryzik Adali Schell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
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That sort of rough-and-tumble street wear, with a do-it-yourself ethos, will always have a place here.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2023
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In this rough-and-tumble era, trade wars were frequent and destabilizing.
—Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2025
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Think leather jackets twisted just so, rough-and-tumble slouchy pants, sumptuous faux fur coats and lots of trim suits.
—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
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While Zip's was once a rough-and-tumble bar known for gambling and cheap beer, the cafe is now more family-friendly.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
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Those who remember the truculence of those rough-and-tumble Ducks know how much of a sacrifice that was.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
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Hormones grow the helpless newborn into a rough-and-tumble toddler who gains height through the hormones that lengthen the bones.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
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And there was nothing really rough-and-tumble about that environment.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
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The sometimes rough-and-tumble process of transplanting from one pot and growing location to another can cause some plants to wilt.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
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The book is also available in a hardcover option, though the board book is your best bet for withstanding rough-and-tumble toddlers.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 11 July 2023
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All three involved Draymond Green, who injured his ribs, ankle and left wrist during a rough-and-tumble night.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
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Rabid fans of both clubs were treated to a rough-and-tumble 90 minutes marked by seven yellow cards and 26 fouls.
—Sasha Richie, Dallas News, 30 July 2023
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With rotomolded construction, this heavy-duty cooler can be used in any weather while standing up to rough-and-tumble use.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2023
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The right choice, the moral choice, is to make sure the most vulnerable Floridians aren’t left behind in this rough-and-tumble budget year.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
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Joe himself was one of these aging, progressive, rough-and-tumble types, half hippie and half Charles Bukowski.
—Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
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Supergirl may not be as kind as her cousin, youngsters will recognize her goodness and big heart, even under a rough-and-tumble exterior.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 26 June 2026
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The central gay romance has a rough-and-tumble warmth, and the videogame sequences are crafted to highlight Apolline’s growing loneliness.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
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In fact, democracy is a pretty rough-and-tumble system of government, and voters sometimes demand that government step back.
—Dominic Pino, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
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With about a half a minute to go in a rough-and-tumble second stanza, Traven, up 5-0 on points, rolled one of Weber’s shoulder blades to the mat.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025
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The president’s base includes Fox News viewers as well as followers of the more rough-and-tumble right-wing blogosphere.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
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The movie introduced fans to a rough-and-tumble baseball team that was welcoming a new member to their crew, building a rivalry with a ferocious dog, and looking for love poolside.
—EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024
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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
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During that rough-and-tumble era in the Capitol, state lawmakers held statewide redistricting authority.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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More representation in hockey Hockey is a rough-and-tumble sport with occasional fighting and hard hits, even in crucial games where a penalty can prove costly.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
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Ishbia played college basketball for the famously rough-and-tumble Tom Izzo at Michigan State.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2023
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In the competition series’ Season 41 premiere, 16 veterans are each paired with a rookie partner for a rough-and-tumble battle for all the glory.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 30 July 2025
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Comfortable dude ranch Lone Mountain Ranch marries the region's rough-and-tumble spirit with modern hospitality.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
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But don’t worry about things getting repetitive, because their cheesy, wholesome (with a W) love story is markedly different from Hollander and Rozanov’s rough-and-tumble tryst.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
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The six Roosevelt children captivated the nation, with the small rough-and-tumble boys becoming infamous for playing rambunctiously in the White House.
—Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023
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There’s no guarantee that talking with Bondi about Epstein in a closed-door setting, even a deposition, will be more productive than the normally rough-and-tumble public hearings held by the panel.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rough-and-tumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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