ROUGHHOUSE Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

roughhouse 1 of 2

noun

ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s

Definition of roughhouse

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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roughhouse

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrestle

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in to cut up

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 roughhouse

Noun

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

Verb

In the clip, four male golden retriever puppies were roughhousing. — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 While the attempt is made to laugh this off as the result of some sort of roughhousing with Chelsea, even Chrishell suggests to the camera that there’s a more adult explanation. — Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for roughhouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughhouse

Noun

As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.

— Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.

— Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026

Definition of roughhousing

Verb

But the Young Bucks have been a dominant force in tag team wrestling for years.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Hinduism itself has long wrestled with the question of how many gods there are, and different answers have been proposed throughout its history, but none of those answers necessarily invalidates the others.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrestle

Verb

What parents can do on hectic mornings Nemours recommends doing as much as possible the night before, from setting out dishes to cutting up fruit.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Mix a package of instant potatoes with a half packet of stuffing mix and some cut up salami.

— Diana Helmuth, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of cut up

Noun

The device’s user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.

— Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
The device's user manual also warns it should not be used in response to verbal defiance, or for punishment, torture or horseplay.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of horseplay

Verb

Creative labor certainly seems to be disappearing as studios experiment with generative AI, and artists and craftspeople are rightly afraid of being further mistreated, devalued, or replaced.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Riddle says misdiagnosing and mistreating postpartum psychosis can have adverse effects on patients.

— Louisa Moller, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistreat

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

Definition of carouse

Verb

Over the Fourth of July weekend, a series of storms skimmed the south of the city, pummeling Coney Island and the Rockaways with sand and sending beach umbrellas spinning like tops.

— Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026
Suspended Trooper Christopher Regan, caught on camera appearing to pummel a fellow Statie at a Quincy bar, has waived this week’s show-cause hearing and will be arraigned next month on a single assault and battery charge.

— Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of pummel

Browse Nearby Words

rough-hewn

roughhouse

roughhoused

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“Roughhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhouse. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of roughhouse

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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