as in horseplay
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
roughhousing was simply part of growing up in a family with four boys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in wrestling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in clowning
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 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
The actor shared rare photos of the teen with his younger siblings, getting it in at the gym, hiking, and roughhousing.
—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
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
The actor shared rare photos of the teen with his younger siblings, getting it in at the gym, hiking, and roughhousing.
—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughhousing
Noun
-
When horseplay turns into an impromptu hookup, neither of the young men fight the urge.
-
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.
Verb
-
While struggling at home, Starmer has earned praise for his response to global conflicts, sometimes appearing more at home at international summits than when wrestling with the details of domestic policy.
-
After granting his request to aid his cause, Sharako insists that the uptight Lannister prove his worth by wrestling her in a mud pit.
Verb
-
Using unseen footage from Presley’s 1969 to 1976 Las Vegas residency, the movie plays the hits – plus The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel – but also showcases his sense of humor, quipping with crowds and cutting up with bandmates.
-
Always cutting up and making memories.
Noun
-
Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
-
Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.
Verb
-
Behested payments make an excellent target for pummeling the presidential contender.
-
Vargas was among a group of three men being sought for pummeling the cab parked at 36th St and Seventh Ave.
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).
-
The team were meek in defeat, but after a weekend carousing and communing in central London, Newcastle fans arrived at Wembley with a collective hangover.
Noun
-
The boys still have room to roughhouse—and even space to set up their Ping-Pong table near the living area.
-
This is why some people work nine hours a day, go to the gym, and roughhouse with their kids in the evening, while others already feel tired just thinking about this daily schedule.
Verb
-
The refs started handing out technical fouls like free samples, slapping Thomas and Hines-Allen with a double technical.
-
Prosecutors dropped all charges against a bouncer for allegedly slapping a bar patron in February.
Cite this Entry
“Roughhousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhousing. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
