as in boisterous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
while American university debates tend to be sedate affairs, their counterparts in Oxford are wholeheartedly rumbustious
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Recent Examples of rumbustious
In the crowd at that rumbustious Democratic Convention in 1896 was a journeyman journalist, L. Frank Baum, who had a number of careers behind him by that time.
—
David McWilliams,
Fortune,
16 Nov. 2025
Around this time, the outfit’s quirky, lightly rumbustious songs began to resonate across British press and radio; accessible while containing a marked dose of strangeness, Fontaine’s songwriting – at once emotionally raw and witty – boasted a strong multi-generational appeal.
—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
8 May 2025
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 May 2022
Still, there’s a lot of pleasing vitality to this great American story about how clever brewers took an ancient idea and unlocked an unheard-of range of innovations with a combination of capitalist energy and rumbustious creativity.
—
Kyle Smith,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2021
The tech titans, with their somewhat rumbustious Bay Area staffers, look quite vulnerable.
—
The Economist,
22 June 2020
David McWilliams,
Fortune,
16 Nov. 2025
Around this time, the outfit’s quirky, lightly rumbustious songs began to resonate across British press and radio; accessible while containing a marked dose of strangeness, Fontaine’s songwriting – at once emotionally raw and witty – boasted a strong multi-generational appeal.
—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
8 May 2025
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 May 2022
Still, there’s a lot of pleasing vitality to this great American story about how clever brewers took an ancient idea and unlocked an unheard-of range of innovations with a combination of capitalist energy and rumbustious creativity.
—
Kyle Smith,
National Review,
18 Apr. 2021
The tech titans, with their somewhat rumbustious Bay Area staffers, look quite vulnerable.
—
The Economist,
22 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumbustious
Adjective
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Now, Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max brings back the fun of the original Tickle Me Elmo, but with a bigger size and more ways to activate Elmo's boisterous laughter.
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Some use to it describe the most boisterous group of antagonistic influencers.
Adjective
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The energetic Ecuadoran team, bolstered by a goal and a raucous crowd, has been given new life in this game.
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The game’s meaninglessness didn’t matter to the raucous sellout crowd that packed SoFi Stadium.
Adjective
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Paré-Poupart’s style gives his book a rambunctious spirit, a sense of a hungry, catholic mind at work.
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And the mess wasn’t just localized to the trash can—there were husks everywhere, like rose petals tossed by a rambunctious 4-year-old flower girl thrilled to be at her first wedding.
Adjective
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After five seasons, FX's Emmy-winning series has come to an end, with new chapters beginning for the staff of the rowdy restaurant.
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On Public Luxury, the band aimed to channel the energy of their rowdy live shows, resulting in urgent songs for urgent times, and an album that always seems to be speeding toward you.
Adjective
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Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.
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Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.
Adjective
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Similarly, the lively Doyles Irish Pub serves classic pub fare such as wings, a Reuben sandwich, and fish and chips.
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In the evening, Banff’s newest late-night spot, The Dusty Boot Saloon, channels cowboy country motifs through nostalgic saloon energy and a lively dance hall, stage for live music and hidden lounges.
Adjective
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After Tuesday night’s noisy earnings report, FedEx is down around 1% in midmorning trading, off its lows of the session.
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McGee also prioritizes authentic community on platforms like Substack over noisy social media.
Adjective
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The march stems from the violent 1969 police raid of the Stonewall Inn that catalyzed the gay rights movement at a time when many people who were LGBTQIA+ hid their identity.
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Over the years, Hall has responded to emergencies ranging from domestic violence calls to serious violent crimes.
Cite this Entry
“Rumbustious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbustious. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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