Synonyms of rowdy

rowdy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrau̇-dē 

as in boisterous

being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way

a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boisterous
• raucous
• rambunctious
• noisy
• lively
• rollicking
• rumbustious
• robustious
• wild and woolly
• hell-raising
• violent
• roisterous
• knockabout
• carnival
• riotous
• screaming
• unruly
• raffish
• ruffianly
• uninhibited
• turbulent
• exuberant
• uncontrollable
• undisciplined
• uncontrolled
• carnivalesque
• obstreperous
• wild
• rampageous
• unmanageable
• bubbly
• recalcitrant
• impassioned
• high-spirited
• headstrong
• rowdyish
• tempestuous
• vociferous
• yelling
• vivacious
• intractable
• ungovernable
• larrikin
• unrestrained
• effervescent
• stormy
• unreserved
• loudmouthed
• strident
• buoyant
• sprightly
• clamorous
• willful
• rackety
• callithumpian
• howling
• open-mouthed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• orderly
• solemn
• sedate
• staid
• somber
• sober
• proper
• quiet
• dignified
• silent
• calm
• peaceful
• decorous
• restrained
• placid
• serene
• tranquil
• composed
• controlled
• seemly
• hushed
• collected
• noiseless
• subdued
• repressed
• moderate
• reasonable
• inhibited
• unflappable
• unruffled
• imperturbable
• constrained
• soundless
• temperate
• stoic
• phlegmatic
• stolid
• depressed
• impassive
• indifferent
• aloof
• detached
• self-controlled

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

• thug
• criminal
• tough
• gangster
• hooligan
• pirate
• bandit
• ruffian
• villain
• hoodlum
• roughneck
• assassin
• bully
• thief
• punk
• offender
• gorilla
• mobster
• hood
• gangsta
• goon
• gangbanger
• yobbo
• yob
• toughie
• plug-ugly
• cutthroat
• scoundrel
• outlaw
• perpetrator
• mug
• desperado
• brigand
• robber
• felon
• mafioso
• lawbreaker
• vandal
• highwayman
• gunman
• crook
• perp
• pickpocket
• racketeer
• swindler
• bravo
• malefactor
• juvenile delinquent
• tearaway

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rowdy

Adjective

The little girl could be heard well over a rowdy crowd that had about been lulled into passiveness — and eventually, boos in the fifth round — in the humdrum title fight. — CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

Jackass is for the 12-year-old boy within us all, one that’s a little bit rowdy and a little bit restless and a little bit destructive, but still sort of innocent about it all. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Compared to a juggernaut festival like Glasto — known for its sprawling grounds, mandatory camping and rowdy atmosphere — Øya, which kicks off on Wednesday, delivers a more intimate experience. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

When Labor Day passes, the rowdy weekenders become a not-so-distant memory as Montauk settles into a quieter rhythm. — Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026