as in rough
hastily or roughly constructed
the announcement of his candidacy was made from a rough-and-tumble stage put together just that morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people
a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough-and-tumble
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Joe himself was one of these aging, progressive, rough-and-tumble types, half hippie and half Charles Bukowski.
—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
If the surprisingly rough-and-tumble world of 16th-century playwrights doesn’t immediately compel you, know that this is the kind of book in which every page is filled with an unexpected twist or insight (however speculative or hard to prove these conclusions may turn out to be).
—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Over the years, the city has transformed from a rough-and-tumble logging and mining outpost into a destination for both outdoor enthusiasts and culture seekers, completing one of America’s great urban renewal stories.
—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough-and-tumble
Noun
There’s no guarantee that talking with Bondi about Epstein in a closed-door setting, even a deposition, will be more productive than the normally rough-and-tumble public hearings held by the panel.
—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Joe himself was one of these aging, progressive, rough-and-tumble types, half hippie and half Charles Bukowski.
—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
If the surprisingly rough-and-tumble world of 16th-century playwrights doesn’t immediately compel you, know that this is the kind of book in which every page is filled with an unexpected twist or insight (however speculative or hard to prove these conclusions may turn out to be).
—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Over the years, the city has transformed from a rough-and-tumble logging and mining outpost into a destination for both outdoor enthusiasts and culture seekers, completing one of America’s great urban renewal stories.
—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough-and-tumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-and-tumble
Adjective
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Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
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Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
Noun
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Thirteen players, including four Australians, are ejected for their part in the brawl.
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The Red Sox and Nationals turned a regular June game into the biggest baseball brawl of the season after Boston hothead Willson Contreras completely lost it.
Adjective
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Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
Adjective
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Due Amici brings Brooklyn roots and authenticity, right down to the counter service that’s not rude but not exactly warm.
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It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
Adjective
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Some showstopping pieces were sold at Vivienne Westwood’s London shop Seditionaries, which revolutionized a rough-and-ready pop-culture style that still resonates to this day.
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Its Blue Armchair, on show at design exhibition Convey, is blocky and rigid with rough-and-ready industrial detailing.
Adjective
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SpudCell is still primitive, most closely resembling a bacterium.
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While primitive in appearance, the arms kept the device relatively secure on my neck.
Cite this Entry
“Rough-and-tumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-and-tumble. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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