ruckus

noun

ˈrə-kəs
Definition of ruckusnext
1
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ruckus The ruckus around Cunningham does not appear to be dissipating, in any event. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 The road ruckus happened earlier this month, and police said the large group posed a significant safety risk and traffic delay to nearby residents. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 Nevada is angling to oust South Carolina as the first state to hold the Democratic primary in the 2028 elections, a move that is causing a ruckus in the caucus. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026 Escape the ruckus at a beach club, or lido, such as Pettolecchia Il Lido, a luxury spot between Bari and Brindisi. — Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruckus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruckus
  1. brawl
  2. commotion
  3. altercation
  4. disturbance
  5. stir
  6. fuss
  7. hurry
  8. turmoil
Noun
  • Valkyria got back into the match fairly quickly and the brawl was on.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The brawl was captured on cellphone video and shared among neighbors.
    — Amy Corral, CBS News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of brawl
Noun
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • On Friday, Benson's family told CBS News Detroit that the incident stemmed from an altercation that happened years prior.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Wallace was charged in federal court last month on the same day that her successor, Cody Bass, was ordered to spend 10 days in a Douglas County, Nevada, jail for a harassment conviction stemming from an altercation at a brewpub.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of altercation
Noun
  • Ars has previously looked at how this X-plane program is intended to support the design of future supersonic airliners that may fly overland while minimizing disturbances for buildings and people below.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Atmospheric disturbances recorded during the launch suggested the rocket may have punched a hole in Earth’s ionosphere, according to a study by researchers at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • From Beyoncé, Solange, and Jay-Z’s elevator incident in 2014, to Kim Kardashian causing a stir after wearing Marilyn Monroe’s beaded dress to the 2022 Met Gala, fashion’s biggest night is no stranger to backlash.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 5 Nov. 2026
  • At the last Met Gala in May, model Bhavitha Mandava caused a stir online after she was outfitted in a pair of Chanel jeans and a half-zip many thought to be far too workaday.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • After a marathon journey involving three connecting flights to reach Glasgow—and coming off the back of a particularly hectic week that had left me feeling a little under the weather—the lack of fuss was firmly appreciated.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Their clients, like the classic Vegas-chapel clientele, didn’t want the fuss of a giant ceremony or just didn’t have the guests.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • The Tigers only had six QB hurries, partly due to Jackson escaping the pocket and firing balls out quickly.
    — PJ Green November 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Defensive tackle Will Echoles consistently disrupted the Missouri offensive front for five tackles, two broken up passes, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Bass has talked up the city’s drop in violent crime, including a 47% reduction in homicides, and warned that Raman’s plan to remove the police chief would throw the LAPD into turmoil right before the Olympics.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Strict controls on capital flows limit foreign investors’ participation in Chinese markets, reducing the possibility that turmoil could spread internationally.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of turmoil

Browse Nearby Words

rucksacks
ruckus
ruckuses
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Cite this Entry

“Ruckus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruckus. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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