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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Dissimilar Words

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
Measles symptoms, including high fevers, watery eyes, cough, rash and runny nose, can appear up to 21 days after initial exposure. —Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 Ashtray makes the rash decision to stick a knife in Custer's neck — and all hell breaks loose. —Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
After a rash of incidents across the state, Amazon will stop selling some higher-speed e-bikes in California, according to the Orange County District Attorney. —Austin Turner, CBS News, 11 May 2026 About one in five have mild symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, skin rash on trunk of body and swollen lymph glands. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 May 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
  • Abstaining from highly reinforcing digital or other vices can break habits and reduce impulsive behavior such as phone checking.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
  • For instance, Mercury in Taurus prefers logic, stability and tangible facts, but Neptune in Aries adds a layer of impulsive fantasy and projection that can override common sense.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Definition of impulsive
Noun
  • Haffkine, little known to the general public, was the Ukrainian-Jewish scientist whose work on cholera and plague vaccines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries helped save millions of lives.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
  • In 2023, a slew of onstage attacks involving water bottles, cellphones and other projectiles seemed to plague musicians.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Definition of plague
Adjective
  • Staying there feels like stepping back in time to a less crowded, less hurried version of Italy, where old men gather in front of the church to watch the world go by, and families with little kids enjoy a gelato on the terrace of the cafes on the main square.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • Certainly, costs have risen, but those sorts of checks have made a hurried meal feel like an expensive indulgence and really not that different, cost-wise, from a full-service experience.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Definition of hurried
Noun
  • Initial tests suggested the outbreak may not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which was responsible for Congo’s devastating 2018-2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • This reversible conductive glue offers a direct solution to the e-waste epidemic.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • The Sun were consistently among the WNBA’s top-performing franchises on and off the court before the league’s sudden exponential growth.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2026
  • Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, said as a result of these sudden deployments, some spouses have had to cut back on their work hours or quit their jobs to hold down the home front.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 13 May 2026
Definition of sudden
Noun
  • That raises the stakes for next week, given that Nvidia's earnings are set to release into a stock market near record highs, alongside a whole spate of retail companies like Walmart that are reporting just as consumer sentiment dives to all-time lows .
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 May 2026
  • The spate of attacks continued throughout the month and into April, including an arson attack against a Jewish charity organization in London and another arson attack a day later on April 18, also in London, according to the complaint.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Definition of spate
Adjective
  • Jalen Brunson still remembers when a younger McBride chucked up a hasty 3-pointer and missed it.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • Reasonable minds can disagree, though, and cynicism seems hasty.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2026
Definition of hasty
Noun
  • The final raft scene matters because of that friendship.
    — JD Linville, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • The new Android firmware delivers a raft of security updates, and owners of Samsung flagships will not want to see more delays.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 15 May 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 17 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rash

Nglish: Translation of rash for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rash

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