roughhouse 1 of 2

noun

ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce roughhouse (audio)
Definition of roughhousenext
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

1
as in to wrestle

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in to cut up

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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
  1. roughhousing
  2. wrestle
  3. cut up
  4. joking
  5. mistreat
  6. carouse
  7. horseplay
  8. pummel
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 its founding family’s artistic, globe-trotting descendants have mostly stayed out of the business—and some have visibly wrestled with what that oil money has meant.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 July 2026
  • But that’s forcing them to wrestle with the idea that any action taken by a party is illegitimate, anti-democratic rigging — something the other team can use to depress the base.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of wrestle
Verb
  • Use leftover cheese scraps, cut up, in pasta salad, melted in macaroni and cheese, or add to snack boxes.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026
  • The director planned to film the killing of a live donkey, which would be cut up for food by actors portraying laborers.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Definition of cut up
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Verb
  • In June, Hilton returned to the Provo Canyon School to support two families who filed lawsuits alleging that their children were mistreated at the school.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • This is not the only group of women who’ve been mistreated and not listened to.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 July 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
Noun
  • When horseplay turns into an impromptu hookup, neither of the young men fight the urge.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026
  • After France’s 4-3 victory against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, horseplay between the players at the team hotel culminated in back-up centre-back Adil Rami setting off a fire extinguisher in the early hours of the morning.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Definition of horseplay
Verb
  • Several other towns experienced flash flooding as rain pummeled the northern part of the state.
    — Christina Fan, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • Lockhart had pummeled her face beyond recognition — requiring the use of dental records to confirm her identity.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 24 July 2026
Definition of pummel

Browse Nearby Words

rough-hewn
roughhouse
roughhoused
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of roughhouse for Spanish Speakers

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