as in roughhousing
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to wrestle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of roughhouse
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
These inflatable body bumpers do just that while also ensuring that kiddos don’t get hurt while roughhousing in the backyard, park, or beach.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 14 June 2024
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Feb. 2023
Brazil’s team, a double defending champion, had been eliminated in the group stage in the 1966 championship in England, with Pelé literally kicked out of the tournament by the roughhouse play of Brazil’s opponents.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for roughhouse
Noun
There were nights spent roughhousing at the fire station, maybe engaging in a pillow fight or two.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
These inflatable body bumpers do just that while also ensuring that kiddos don’t get hurt while roughhousing in the backyard, park, or beach.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 14 June 2024
Verb
Geno lost his composure at the end of the game, picked up a T, then critiqued South Carolina’s roughhouse style.
—Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Feb. 2023
Brazil’s team, a double defending champion, had been eliminated in the group stage in the 1966 championship in England, with Pelé literally kicked out of the tournament by the roughhouse play of Brazil’s opponents.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for roughhouse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughhouse
Verb
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Superprod is here at MIPCOM in Cannes this week, as the animation market continues to wrestle with financing and developing new IP.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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After The Iron Claw came out in December 2023, Dylan posted a video of Olivia and Henry play-wrestling him, seemingly inspired by their older brother’s character.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Authorities believe it was cut up and sold, AP reported.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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They also aren’t burdened with making sure any of their shots match, since in essence any take can be cut up into a master, close-ups, two-shots, or whatever else Cameron decides.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jones eventually got into his joking bag, and Bleek took that opportunity to seriously set the record straight one last time.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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And their joking comments about their relationship never help the matter.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In prison, she was often severely mistreated.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
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One said no one mistreated him.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many foreign attendees at San Fermín have no stomach for the spectacle and spend their early evenings carousing in local bars instead.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
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These increasingly crazed visitors spend their days lazing on the shore, drinking and eating, carousing with prostitutes, and abusing Rosa (played by B-movie actress Leonora Fani, who would also star in the equally notorious vacation film Giallo in Venice) for their own entertainment.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Butch Baker, who was Henry County sheriff until 2014, recalled an incident in which Bertram was accused of inappropriate horseplay at the community corrections office.—
Tony Cook,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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The action anime feature for everyone who couldn’t get enough of the horseplay in The Two Towers has finally cantered onto Max.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Guerrero pummeled the Yankees in the four-game series.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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In the European weather model, the storm pulls closer to the coast and moves northward more slowly, allowing the powerful winds and rain to pummel the mid-Atlantic through at least Tuesday, bringing up to half a foot of rain and gusty winds.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cue Pennywise's menacing laughter and our first glimpse of the killer clown behind his signature red balloon.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
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Dash countered by clowning Cam for 50 being his boss, and thus continued their public back-and-forth.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roughhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhouse. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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