roister

Definition of roisternext
as in to carouse
to take part in drunken revelry the earl's wastrel son had spent the best part of his youth roistering and gambling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 roister One of his sons, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman), though hardly old enough to be in long pants, wears shining armor, while the other son, Hal (Timothée Chalamet), is a slouch who wastes his life in roistering. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roister
Verb
  • Three sitting rooms are complemented by a further three members’ social spaces for carousing in, concealed behind a subtle screen (here, DJs including Goldierocks make appearances, and mobile snaps are banned; staff politely place a sticker over mobile camera lenses).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
  • Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to reunite with her old girlfriend Nel (Lena Góra), and carouse across lofts, clubs, and back alleys, leaving her erstwhile partner stranded.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On Sunday, after Scotland won against Haiti in their first World Cup game, Scottish fans celebrated drinking so much beer that some Boston bars ran out.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2026
  • In May, drinks giants Carlsberg and Diageo were among 40 organizations that signed a declaration of intent to scale regenerative agriculture across their supply chains, through a program developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative platform.
    Jasmin Sykes, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The pair sequester themselves in a shed while guests revel outside in the sunshine.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Nebraska fans with seats around the tunnel spotted them, because thousands of Nebraska fans were still in their seats, reveling, the music still thumping in the arena, as if some kind of encore would be happening.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The eight-episode second season will be available to binge via FXX on-demand and Hulu at premiere.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 June 2026
  • Cotillard binged the entire show in three days and was a fan, Leder recalled.
    Matt Minton, Variety, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead.
    Douglas Stuart, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2020
  • In some parts of the United States, birling contests are annual events.
    Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2019
Verb
  • Some speculate that wassailing predates Christianity in the region; others note its association with the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 24 Dec. 2025
  • In addition to the live music in Caldwell Hall, there's also an opportunity to join an English tradition: wassailing around the apple tree, a ritual to inspire a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 19 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Roister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roister. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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