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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 family section in the lower bowl of Oracle Park has been plenty rowdy over the last 24 hours. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026 In front of a rowdy Queens crowd, the superstars surged in their debut to a 5-3, 4-1 victory against Routliffe and Glasspool, despite a slow start. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 Adult Supervision – known locally as Arkipelag – follows three fathers who chaperone their teenage daughters on a rowdy school trip to a remote island. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 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 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. noisy
  8. gangster
Adjective
  • Indeed, the polar opposite of both Number One’s icy demeanor and Chapel’s long-suffering yearning, Majel is remembered by friends and colleagues as a boisterous, brassy, take-no-prisoners presence.
    — Scott Huver, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But the costly interceptions by last season’s MVP runner-up turned the tide and made sure that the banner-raising night would end in happy fashion for the boisterous home crowd.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of boisterous
Noun
  • That a Christian man was responsible for the devastation in Oklahoma City certainly didn’t matter to the thugs who terrorized a Muslim woman there, nearly seven months pregnant, by attacking her home, breaking her windows, screaming religious slurs.
    — Reshma Memon Yaqub, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • On a cold night in November 2011, in a field outside Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, a gang of thugs stormed a Soviet scientific research institute, beat and humiliated the staff and burned the place to the ground.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of thug
Adjective
  • Manning will not only have to contend with a raucous Volunteers crowd but also take on a defense that has allowed just 14 points per game this season.
    — Ryan Canfield , Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The Border War was a raucous road environment for the Tigers, but Davis Wade stadium will have more than 60,000 fans strong.
    — PJ Green September 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of raucous
Noun
  • Victims who clicked those ads were redirected to fake banking websites controlled by the criminals, according to the DOJ.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Trump, his family and his wealthy cronies are criminals spending taxpayers’ money and taking it with their underhanded deals with our enemies.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Sunny, a rambunctious Portuguese water dog that President Barack Obama got at the start of his second term in the White House, died Tuesday at the age of 13, Obama announced.
    — Amy B Wang, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026
  • When her beloved dog Krypto is poisoned, Kara teams with a vengeful teen (Eve Ridley) and a rambunctious bounty hunter (Jason Momoa) to hunt down the vicious outlaw responsible.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 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 Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery (7 miles north of San Simeon) remains full of massive, delightfully noisy beasts.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The passionate fans, especially the loyalists in his native Michigan, were getting too restless and noisy.
    — Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of noisy
Noun
  • Though Pachinko featured more angels than demons, Lee still convincingly inhabited Koh Hansu, the gangster and groomer.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Born Again followed Fisk who goes from being a gangster to a NYC autocrat mayor.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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