rowdy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrau̇-dē How to pronounce rowdy (audio)
Definition of rowdynext
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

rowdy

2 of 2

noun

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

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 rowdy
Adjective
The Mystic of my childhood, though, had a modicum of edge — kids with anarchy symbols on their jackets skateboarded outside a coffee shop that reeked of weed, and locals got rowdy at a dysfunctional watering hole called the Draw Bridge Inne. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 The applause after that particular song was the most raucous and rowdy of the night. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026 Audiences interested in the rock side of Lollapalooza will surely want to check out their early-evening set on the Bud Light stage, where fans will hopefully mosh and get rowdy. — Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 So in the rowdy, reckless days of ‘90s TV comedy, the couple’s decision to go public with their efforts to conceive a child became a prime target for primetime parody. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rowdy
  1. boisterous
  2. thug
  3. raucous
  4. criminal
  5. rambunctious
  6. tough
  7. lively
  8. gangster
Adjective
  • There was no music and no hustle and bustle in Inwood on Sunday; just the sound of barricades being laid out in the normally boisterous neighborhood.
    — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The players were much bigger than Nikolich was at the time, the crowd was boisterous and the lights were exceedingly bright.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of boisterous
Noun
  • Tae-ha’s mom left him after Sang-gil, who was also a boxer prior to becoming a thug, cheated in a match.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Shortly after his big win, he’s attacked by two thugs in a parking garage.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
Definition of thug
Adjective
  • The question, asked by a potential juror, was met immediately with raucous laughter in the courtroom.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • So, yes, the raucous, rowdy Bills crowds that sometimes stood the entire game at the old Highmark Stadium might be going away.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of raucous
Noun
  • Spencer says filmmaker Douglas wanted to very much focus mostly on the women rather than talking about the criminals.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Depending on the plan, monitoring may cover credit activity, financial accounts, investment and retirement accounts, phone takeovers, SIM swaps, utility accounts and other areas where criminals may try to use your identity.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • By later this evening, the moon will also join forces with Mars, which is where the energy becomes noticeably faster and possibly rambunctious.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Assistant defensive backs coach Duane Akina, who, despite rapidly approaching 70 years of age, was perhaps the spriest, most energetic and most rambunctious soul on the field.
    — Latif Love August 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rambunctious
Noun
  • And Susan Collins, as Democrats have seen time and time again, is a real tough out.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 21 June 2026
  • In that version, the character is played by Joe Don Baker, the great character actor known for playing toughs in films like Walking Tall (1973) and Fletch (1985).
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The sightlines are good and the atmosphere lively, confirming the potential of Plymouth, the biggest city in the country never to have hosted a top-flight football club.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shipley-Welter remembers when the town was more lively, with open storefronts and a nearby grocery store.
    — Julianna Mejia August 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively
Noun
  • This high-security prison is a sprawling complex that houses thousands of detainees, including notorious gangsters, terrorists and prominent white-collar offenders.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The trailer signals a narrative grounded in moral ambiguity and raw human emotion rather than conventional gangster storytelling.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of gangster

Browse Nearby Words

rowdiness
rowdy
rowdyish
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Cite this Entry

“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rowdy. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rowdy for Spanish Speakers

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