as in boisterous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Love these always-rowdy elders at the retirement home.
—William Earl, Variety, 14 Dec. 2025
Some cultures celebrate Krampusnacht by dressing as Krampus and holding a rowdy procession through town, according to Wipplinger.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The final blow came in Raleigh, where the Wolfpack and coach Dave Doeren were all too eager to stick it to the Tar Heels for a fifth straight year in front of a typically rowdy home crowd.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Adjective
One of Stowers’ kills bounced off of the chest of Kentucky outside hitter and Topeka native Brooklyn DeLeye, igniting the rowdy 12th Man element in the stands.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Love these always-rowdy elders at the retirement home.
—William Earl, Variety, 14 Dec. 2025
Some cultures celebrate Krampusnacht by dressing as Krampus and holding a rowdy procession through town, according to Wipplinger.
—Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The final blow came in Raleigh, where the Wolfpack and coach Dave Doeren were all too eager to stick it to the Tar Heels for a fifth straight year in front of a typically rowdy home crowd.
—CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rowdy
Adjective
-
Cucinelli, speaking in boisterous Italian through a translator, recalls with a booming laugh.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
-
There was also a boisterous celebration in Cleveland's locker room after the game.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Again, Maduro is a socialist thug.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This is the underworld that Michlewitz and the rest of his thug pals come out of, and will protect at all costs.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Sports radio can be loud and raucous, blaring with bluster and bellowing.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Aztecs make their second trip to Phoenix in a month, this time to face controversial new conference member GCU in one of the nation’s most raucous home-court atmospheres.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In other court cases, some civil and some criminal, involving a total of nearly 300 additional hectares near Vlora, Shehu and his family members are accused of grabbing property through similar forgeries.—
Lindita Cela,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In India’s rambunctious and frenetic political system, tinkering with the voter list attracts enormous scrutiny, and even litigation.—
Esha Mitra,
CNN Money,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Rita described Francis as a rambunctious, smart kid who was doted on by his three little sisters.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Doing so with a CVS receipt-long injury list is all kinds of tough.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The surge coincides with his tough on crime takeover of DC.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Chabada For a livelier scene, head to the main drag along Platja de l’Arenal to find Chabada.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The style throughout, irrespective of category, is lively without being hectic, a pleasing postmodern blend of contemporary, midcentury, and roughly Victorian elements.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Stumpy the gangster, Bev the Mormon.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Metrotone Media’s Katharina Gellein Viken, meanwhile, revealed a new micro-drama in the works, a mockumentary about the making of a low-budget British gangster flick.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rowdy. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share