rambunctious

adjective

ram-ˈbəŋk-shəs How to pronounce rambunctious (audio)
Definition of rambunctiousnext
as in boisterous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way that beach is often taken over by packs of rambunctious young people, so don't go there expecting peace and quiet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rambunctious Salonen was back this year, a bit less rambunctious than before, secure in his status as one of the major musical figures of our time. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Here’s help The Tartan Army took over Miami Scottish fans are enthusiastic, rambunctious, loud and — more than anything — organized. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 Paré-Poupart’s style gives his book a rambunctious spirit, a sense of a hungry, catholic mind at work. — Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 And the mess wasn’t just localized to the trash can—there were husks everywhere, like rose petals tossed by a rambunctious 4-year-old flower girl thrilled to be at her first wedding. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rambunctious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rambunctious
  1. boisterous
  2. rowdy
  3. raucous
  4. lively
  5. rumbustious
  6. rollicking
  7. noisy
  8. violent
Adjective
  • Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists.
    — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Matt Lucas and Marina Prior’s Thénardiers are boisterous and charming — more amiable sleazes than menacing scumbags, if that tracks.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of boisterous
Adjective
  • Skubal is deeply competitive, still fueled by his upbringing as a younger brother in a rowdy household.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Mystic of my childhood, though, had a modicum of edge — kids with anarchy symbols on their jackets skateboarded outside a coffee shop that reeked of weed, and locals got rowdy at a dysfunctional watering hole called the Draw Bridge Inne.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
Definition of rowdy
Adjective
  • The family watched the video of Gad’s tribute and the raucous applause that followed.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That’s good enough for always raucous Yankees fans and the perpetually harsh New York media.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • Add a striking focal point by nestling a statue fountain between groups of colorful flowers or lively foliage.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The smaller footprint here makes the car much livelier, and the acceleration feels never-ending.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively
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
  • 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
  • Follow the idea that opens the room, not the one that makes everything noisier.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Bose Bluetooth Headphones Deal Bose QuietComfort headphones deliver legendary noise cancellation, allowing students to effortlessly block out noisy study halls or loud dorm rooms.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • The stunts included burnouts in the middle of the intersection, which resulted in a violent collision with two of the bystanders.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.
    — Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of violent

Browse Nearby Words

ramblings
rambunctious
rambunctiousness
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Cite this Entry

“Rambunctious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambunctious. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rambunctious

Nglish: Translation of rambunctious for Spanish Speakers

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