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rash 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of rashnext
as in impulsive
acting or done with excessive or careless speed that was too rash a move, for now I've lost my bishop and probably the whole chess game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rash

2 of 2

noun

as in plague

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rash are adventurous, daredevil, daring, foolhardy, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When is adventurous a more appropriate choice than rash?

The words adventurous and rash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

Where would daredevil be a reasonable alternative to rash?

The synonyms daredevil and rash are sometimes interchangeable, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for rash?

The words daring and rash can be used in similar contexts, but daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When can foolhardy be used instead of rash?

While the synonyms foolhardy and rash are close in meaning, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

In what contexts can reckless take the place of rash?

The meanings of reckless and rash largely overlap; however, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When could venturesome be used to replace rash?

In some situations, the words venturesome and rash are roughly equivalent. However, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

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 rash
Adjective
Health officials said anyone who may have been exposed should look out for symptoms including a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Officials are advising that anyone concerned about exposure should monitor themselves for measles symptoms, which can include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Symptoms often begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes before progressing to a distinctive rash. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 My laboratory previously discovered that exosomes in the blood of patients with an active shingles rash can increase stroke risk and inflammation. — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rash
  1. impulsive
  2. plague
  3. hurried
  4. epidemic
  5. sudden
  6. spate
  7. hasty
  8. raft
Adjective
  • Things could feel unclear before the dust settles, so hold off on making impulsive decisions.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And their courtship, which White shoots with a sensuous intimacy, begins with some canoodling at a bar, then progresses into an impulsive hookup during a late session at the office.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Noun
  • After the plague arrived in South Dakota in 2005, the acreage occupied by prairie dogs near Badlands National Park shrunk by three quarters within a decade, despite concomitant efforts to rein in the disease.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Let’s hope that Rooney’s successful effort encourages other prominent authors to speak out against the plague of data centers sweeping the land.
    — Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of plague
Adjective
  • Chandler Simpson put down a squeeze bunt and Mateo beat third baseman Kevin McGonigle’s hurried flip to the plate.
    — Dave Hogg, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Chandler Simpson put down a squeeze bunt and Mateo beat third baseman Kevin McGonigle's hurried flip to the plate.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurried
Noun
  • In 2011, the World Health Organization appointed Peng a Goodwill Ambassador for tuberculosis and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • To filter a movie about the origins of a zombie/monster epidemic through the point of view of a hapless outsider is an amusing, if rather one-note, concept.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • The deaths were sudden and unexpected as their health wavered amid the challenges of adjusting to a new home, according to statements from the aquariums.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Circling back to the upbeat pop and rock of Vacation and the dour synth-pop of Beautiful, this artist seems done twisting to find herself and less prone to the sudden adjustments to her persona that made her catalogue spicy.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of sudden
Noun
  • The apparent spate of slayings has sparked a broader conversation about violence against women in the country.
    — Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In July, a fragile 2022 truce between the Houthis and the government fell apart after the group welcomed an Iranian plane to Sanaa in defiance of Riyadh's control over Yemeni airspace, setting off a spate of attacks.
    — Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of spate
Adjective
  • Over the next few months, Caroline, who wanted to get into the house quickly, and Raymond made hasty decisions to speed up the move-in process.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Over time, these hasty constructions gave way to sites that still define New York, like the vast Reflecting Absence memorial at the World Trade Center site, a garden in northern Manhattan, and a memorial on the shores of Staten Island.
    — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of hasty
Noun
  • With bow and arrow in hand, Anghba finds his hunt for a wild boar across a riverbank interrupted by a raft floating downstream, as former tribespeople surround a jovial American preacher (Douglas Henshall), much to the chieftain’s chagrin.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Zubaydah was waterboarded more than 80 times in a month at one point and confined over 11 days in a coffin-size box, among a raft of other mistreatment, a Senate report found.
    — ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of raft

Browse Nearby Words

rascals
rash
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Cite this Entry

“Rash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rash. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rash

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