roughhousing 1 of 2

noun

as in horseplay
wildly playful or mischievous behavior roughhousing was simply part of growing up in a family with four boys

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roughhousing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of roughhouse
1
as in wrestling

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2
as in clowning

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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 roughhousing
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
  1. horseplay
  2. wrestling
  3. cutting up
  4. roughhouse
  5. pummeling
  6. carousing
  7. joking
  8. slapping
Noun
  • Six months ago, Thomas drowned during rough horseplay in a pool.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The video depicts a group of students engaged in horseplay, progressing to two 15-year-olds tussling and laughing, according to the suit.
    — Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of horseplay
Verb
  • The bystander followed the 16-year-old gunman and shot him as another teacher was wrestling with him over the weapon, according to police.
    — Tom Winter, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Inside the school Giamanco saw a woman wrestling with the boy for control of the shotgun.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrestling
Verb
  • Union President Carrie Kyung said the plan includes cutting up to 18 English learner teachers and would affect at least two dozen schools.
    — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • It’s aimed at tasks like neatly cutting up deli meats and cheeses at your picnic or campsite.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of cutting up
Noun
  • The boys still have room to roughhouse—and even space to set up their Ping-Pong table near the living area.
    — Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Lieke ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Definition of roughhouse
Verb
  • Democrats are more than happy to draw those connections, pummeling their Republican rivals for standing by a president who is unpopular with so many voters.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The key will be credibly signaling that critical Russian military and economic assets will be at risk if Russian forces continue pummeling Ukraine’s civilian economy and society.
    — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pummeling
Verb
  • There are certainly fans and pundits who feel that anything short of a title shouldn’t be celebrated in sports, and some who think carousing over anything less is especially beneath the Yankees, who have won 27 World Series but zero since 2009.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of carousing
Noun
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of joking
Verb
  • Intriguingly, this might not just be slapping boards into a plastic box.
    — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That incident involved Smith rushing the stage and slapping host Chris Rock with an open hand after the Oscars host made jokes about Jada Pinkett Smith.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapping

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Cite this Entry

“Roughhousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhousing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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