as in boisterous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
rowdies had overtaken the neighborhood and were threatening people on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rowdy
Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Jackson was one of the leaders who led an unofficial Illinois delegation to the rowdy Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August 1968 at the old International Amphitheatre.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Croatia's most popular seaside destinations is cracking down on rowdy tourists.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Set between a rowdy wedding in the French countryside and a death commemoration ritual in a tiny African village, the film focuses on an extended clan that’s united, and sometimes divided, by the two major events taking place over the course of the movie.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Adjective
The boys did not wield weapons or threaten anyone, but their brash and rowdy behavior alarmed some of the other passengers.
—Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Jackson was one of the leaders who led an unofficial Illinois delegation to the rowdy Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August 1968 at the old International Amphitheatre.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Croatia's most popular seaside destinations is cracking down on rowdy tourists.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Set between a rowdy wedding in the French countryside and a death commemoration ritual in a tiny African village, the film focuses on an extended clan that’s united, and sometimes divided, by the two major events taking place over the course of the movie.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rowdy
Adjective
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As Catherine, Anna Calder-Marshall is wonderfully earthy and boisterous.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
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Chris Jackson / Getty Images And he will also have been given guidance on his fellow prince, who unlike William is not part of a constitutional monarchy answerable to lawmakers and open to criticism from an often boisterous free press.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In a season 3 teaser, Peter saves Suraj Sharma's Jay Batra from some thugs at a soccer stadium.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Foucauld had later left the army to become a Trappist monk and had established himself as a missionary in Tamanrasset, Algeria, in the middle of the Sahara Desert; he was killed there by local thugs in 1916.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The seven-time All-Star made his first seven shots with five 3-pointers amid raucous cheers from the extra-steep supporters’ section called The Wall behind one basket at this futuristic 18-month-old arena.—
Greg Beacham,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2026
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The seven-time All-Star made his first seven shots with five 3-pointers amid raucous cheers from the extra-steep supporters' section called The Wall behind one basket at this futuristic 18-month-old arena.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE has new funding to expand detention space to keep these criminals off American streets before they are removed for good from our communities.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
20 Feb. 2026
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His office is more concerned about arresting police officers than prosecuting criminals.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The rambunctious female calf caught international attention on social media for her precocious antics, including taking a toothless bite of her handler.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Bagatelle is the slightly more rambunctious option.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, a running back on the underdog 49ers will find the sledding tough on the ground, providing gamblers with a desirable rushing under to bet.—
Josh Shepardson,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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Doing so with a CVS receipt-long injury list is all kinds of tough.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Calle Cerra brings together multiple food and drink concepts in one lively stretch.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
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From Erdem’s anniversary show to a slew of energetic debuts and a surprise appearance from His Majesty the King, this London Fashion Week (LFW) was particularly lively for a February edition.—
Maliha Shoaib,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The gangster drama began airing on BBC Two in the UK in 2013, and debuted on Netflix a year later.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
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The sequel finds the notorious gangster back in Birmingham in 1940, racing to save his son.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rowdy. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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