ROWDY Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

rowdy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrau̇-dē

Definition of rowdy

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

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

To this point, those celebrations have been rowdy but civil, with rival fan bases showing respect to one another in these moments of soccer-loving unity. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026 The 45-second clip features Oasis’ rowdy crowds and hints at rehearsal footage as Noel and Liam Gallagher talk about their reunion years after Oasis’ acrimonious breakup. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026 The Saints pioneered the game-day experience common at minor-league stadiums today, full of rowdy performances and characters. — Anya Armentrout, Twin Cities, 4 July 2026 City officials have been eager to crack down on the area’s rowdy nightlife scene, especially after a shooting in December and a Spring Break brawl captured on social media. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rowdy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rowdy

Adjective

On July 8, Hancock read the text to a large and boisterous crowd in Philadelphia.

— Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
My family had a boisterous rescue dog, who was full-grown but often acted like a puppy.

— Deborah Mower, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Definition of boisterous

Noun

Threatening to limit mail-in voting, adding ridiculous ID requirements, or staging thugs at polling places are other possible ways to convince you to stay home.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2026
To be sure, the thugs of Hamas and Hezbollah committed a horrific massacre of young Jewish civilians enjoying a music festival on October 7, 2023.

— DP Opinion, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

Definition of thug

Adjective

England endured a raucous crowd at Estadio Azteca to beat Mexico in a round-of-16 thriller but lost veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson to a wrist injury from a postgame celebration.

— Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
So Monday night could potentially bring a rematch of Schwarber versus Harper in front of a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of raucous

Noun

Data that appears to be compliance information to a regulator can appear to be a target list to a criminal.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.

— Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of criminal

Adjective

The project’s name is what Sprouse and Columbus call their friend group of rambunctious guys.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026
Merzouk took on the tough responsibility of coaching a bunch of rambunctious kids (including Alek) on the Eastside Kickers club in Cleveland Heights.

— Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 July 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

Set the scene Morea House’s contemporary, angular facade faces right out onto the beach from where the lively V&A Waterfront is a 20-minute drive north, with Sea Point, another popular stretch of seafront, just 11 minutes away by car.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Known for its sprawling waterfront cottages and lively social scene, Muskoka sets the stage as relationships, careers, and personal lives collide.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 July 2026

Definition of lively

Noun

Madonna was stopped dead in her tracks by the strapping 30-year-old auteur of the nouvelle vague gangster movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, an eye-popping directorial debut.

— Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Yet Francis Ford Coppola's original sprawling gangster epic is undeniable.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of gangster

Browse Nearby Words

rowdiness

rowdy

rowdyish

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rowdy. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rowdy

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rowdy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes