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
Stephen Groves, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023
The startup’s rough-and-tumble experiments are even more telling.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 24 Feb. 2023
Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Those who remember the truculence of those rough-and-tumble Ducks know how much of a sacrifice that was.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-and-tumble
Adjective
The trappings of the Senate were another world from Mr. Abourezk’s rough-and-tumble childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where his Lebanese parents had immigrated and ran a general store.
—Stephen Groves, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023
The startup’s rough-and-tumble experiments are even more telling.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 24 Feb. 2023
Noun
The president’s base includes Fox News viewers as well as followers of the more rough-and-tumble right-wing blogosphere.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Those who remember the truculence of those rough-and-tumble Ducks know how much of a sacrifice that was.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-and-tumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-and-tumble
Adjective
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So the idea of him playing someone who’s a little rougher and grittier and just completely relentless appealed to him.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
-
This medium-sized toad has large reddish-brown eyes and a rough skin texture.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
They get wasted at a party and engage in a drunken brawl.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Big-market brawls between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees now happen yearly.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Maggie is a snoop—and a clumsy one.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
But the character’s state of servitude is largely hidden in clumsy blocking.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Blame Mercury’s clash with Chiron!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Previous attempts by activist flotillas to break the blockade have largely failed and sometimes sparked deadly clashes, including during the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Brandon, his nerves showing, spoke about the oil boom, cartel activity, copper and crude-oil theft, and the struggles the six law enforcement officers in the county have dealing with it all.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Chad Powers’ nasty protagonist should give it license to be more cutting, rather than just unimaginatively crude, in its humor.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Crowd in New York has been bordered on rude; embarrassing!—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Protecting speech for all requires great tolerance for the vulgar, rude, offensive, angry, mean and, yes, even hateful.—
The Detroit News Editorial Board,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Five seasons of Premier League football have seen Watkins progress from a rough-and-ready channel runner into a striker of prowess.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
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The brand showed off its novel approach to creating a modern version of a vintage Land Rover Defender replete with switch panels for off-road performance and accessories and a rough-and-ready chassis design.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The open North Rim camping at Fire Point and Swamp Ridge, is primitive and requires a backcountry permit.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Chinese navy already makes port calls in Myanmar, but these are brief stays in facilities too primitive to provide naval advantage.—
Dan Swift,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rough-and-tumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-and-tumble. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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