HELL-RAISING Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

hell-raising

adjective

as in rowdy

being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way would often reminisce with his buddies about their hell-raising adventures as teenagers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hell-raising His gruff mechanic Cooter Davenport is introduced as a hell-raising, uncouth wild man, constantly taunting the authorities and flouting convention. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026 Still, he's still got plenty of hell-raising left in him. — Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hell-raising

Adjective

The little girl could be heard well over a rowdy crowd that had about been lulled into passiveness — and eventually, boos in the fifth round — in the humdrum title fight.

— CBS News, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
What follows is a rowdy and uproarious road trip across America, inspired by Green Day’s early days of touring in a van, years before the release of their breakout record, Dookie.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of rowdy

Adjective

There was no music and no hustle and bustle in Inwood on Sunday; just the sound of barricades being laid out in the normally boisterous neighborhood.

— Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
The players were much bigger than Nikolich was at the time, the crowd was boisterous and the lights were exceedingly bright.

— Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of boisterous

Adjective

Golden State started 5 of 27 in front of a raucous, sellout crowd.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
But that blend of raucous laughs (OK, well, some raucous laughs, some mere attempts at them) and real world concerns makes for an uneasy watch, ping-ponging between moods and tones in unpredictable ways.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of raucous

Adjective

Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026

Definition of rollicking

Adjective

The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.

— Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
Still, there’s a lot of pleasing vitality to this great American story about how clever brewers took an ancient idea and unlocked an unheard-of range of innovations with a combination of capitalist energy and rumbustious creativity.

— Kyle Smith, National Review, 18 Apr. 2021

Definition of rumbustious

Adjective

Hong Kong’s position as a once-outspoken corner of China has been upended in recent years by a national security crackdown following huge and often violent democracy protests that convulsed the city in 2019.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
New documents presented Thursday also illustrate a history of allegations of racist and violent behavior by Austin Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter, among the character evidence that was not presented at the trial.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of violent

Adjective

Back at the hotel, rotating art, live performances, wellness programming, and seasonal events keep things lively.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
People have flocked there from California, Washington and Oregon, taking advantage of Boise's lower cost of living, relatively mild winters, and lively outdoor scene.

— CJ Haddad,Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of lively

Browse Nearby Words

hellos

hell-raising

hells

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“Hell-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hell-raising. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hell-raising

adjective

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