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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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 first Monday Night Football matchup of the 2026 season was a total disaster class for the Denver Broncos, who got flattened 31-10 by the Kansas City Chiefs at a rowdy Arrowhead Stadium.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The normally festive and rowdy crowd inside the basketball arena in Dallas quickly hushed as a five-minute memorial video began playing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of rowdy

Adjective

Sunny, a rambunctious Portuguese water dog that President Barack Obama got at the start of his second term in the White House, died Tuesday at the age of 13, Obama announced.

— Amy B Wang, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026
When her beloved dog Krypto is poisoned, Kara teams with a vengeful teen (Eve Ridley) and a rambunctious bounty hunter (Jason Momoa) to hunt down the vicious outlaw responsible.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of rambunctious

Adjective

Indeed, the polar opposite of both Number One’s icy demeanor and Chapel’s long-suffering yearning, Majel is remembered by friends and colleagues as a boisterous, brassy, take-no-prisoners presence.

— Scott Huver, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
But the costly interceptions by last season’s MVP runner-up turned the tide and made sure that the banner-raising night would end in happy fashion for the boisterous home crowd.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of boisterous

Adjective

Manning will not only have to contend with a raucous Volunteers crowd but also take on a defense that has allowed just 14 points per game this season.

— Ryan Canfield , Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
The Border War was a raucous road environment for the Tigers, but Davis Wade stadium will have more than 60,000 fans strong.

— PJ Green September 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 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

The style is almost knockabout, with a color palette reminiscent of Coralie Fargeat, but quickly evolves into its own thing with the arrival of Taquin as Margot, a medical student at a nearby hospital.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.

— JEANNETTE CATSOULIS, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017

Definition of knockabout

Adjective

Why, those teeming crowds just outside the shows are their own lively scene, filled with exciting, unexpected, and downright inspired takes on what’s happening in fashion.

— Phil Oh, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
Echo Theater Company’s ambitious production brings lively design and a volatile cast to the stage, but an unfocused script and feverish direction overwhelm the story.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 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 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hell-raising

adjective

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