rip-roaring

adjective

ˈrip-ˈrȯr-iŋ How to pronounce rip-roaring (audio)
Definition of rip-roaringnext
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation a rip-roaring tale of the Old West

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rip-roaring Tuesday's new trailer shows the character in all his rip-roaring glory. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026 And there's nothing like the rip-roaring rendition of the national anthem at the Madhouse on Madison. — Ryan Baker, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026 The Ivens has arrived to show the sophistication of the colonial Portuguese style and to connect the Chiado neighborhood, one of the most rip-roaring of the city, with locals. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026 In rip-roaring zombie sequel, Sir Jimmy Crystal leads a gang of murderous zealots known as the Jimmies. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026 Charlie’s rip-roaring account of the Helgoland conference surveys the tangled web of quantum interpretations that are in play. — Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025 The vampire period thriller, set in 1930s Mississippi, is rip-roaring fun. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rip-roaring
  1. breathtaking
  2. exciting
  3. thrilling
  4. interesting
  5. intriguing
Adjective
  • Turbulence tossed it up and down by 700 feet (200 meters), but the situation quickly escalated as the aircraft fell at breathtaking speed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The situation quickly escalated as the aircraft fell at breathtaking speed.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • The exciting duo of quarterback Braden Atkinson and Heisman Trophy hopeful wide receiver Jesse Legree leads the Beavers.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Properties are primarily based in cities, and Mallorca feels like a fresh and exciting new arm to its impressive portfolio, which now spans 46 hotels as well as private residences.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • What starts as a thrilling hustle exposes just how many guns are hiding inside the homes of their seemingly safe community.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
  • This architectural paradigm, which has directly informed the biennial via its Urban Visions, was initially a thrilling break from corporate postmodernism.
    — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Adjective
  • Kentucky Most of the attention today will go to Miami-Notre Dame and the Holy War, which makes Kentucky the most interesting spot on the board.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For fall to winter, the trick is to introduce heavier textures, interesting proportions, and accessories that feel decidedly more 2026 than 2006.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of interesting
Adjective
  • The centrepiece of the archaeological site is a massive rock which is more than 20 feet long and features an intriguing engraving of a powerful being.
    — James Rampton, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Touches of surrealism—or even magic—in author-illustrator Jimmy Liao’s detailed artwork add intriguing layers to the story.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of intriguing

Browse Nearby Words

rippling
rip-roaring
rips
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rip-roaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rip-roaring. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gauntlet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All