rumbustious

adjective

ˌrəm-ˈbəs-chəs How to pronounce rumbustious (audio)
Definition of rumbustiousnext
chiefly British
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 rumbustious 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
  1. boisterous
  2. raucous
  3. rambunctious
  4. rowdy
  5. rollicking
  6. lively
  7. noisy
  8. violent
Adjective
  • Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists.
    — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Matt Lucas and Marina Prior’s Thénardiers are boisterous and charming — more amiable sleazes than menacing scumbags, if that tracks.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of boisterous
Adjective
  • The family watched the video of Gad’s tribute and the raucous applause that followed.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That’s good enough for always raucous Yankees fans and the perpetually harsh New York media.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • The picture of Cardinals cool, Walker chased down Kyle Schwarber, shut up a rambunctious Philly crowd and introduced himself to a much wider baseball world.
    — Dan Gelston, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
  • The project’s name is what Sprouse and Columbus call their friend group of rambunctious guys.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026
Definition of rambunctious
Adjective
  • Skubal is deeply competitive, still fueled by his upbringing as a younger brother in a rowdy household.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Mystic of my childhood, though, had a modicum of edge — kids with anarchy symbols on their jackets skateboarded outside a coffee shop that reeked of weed, and locals got rowdy at a dysfunctional watering hole called the Draw Bridge Inne.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
Definition of rowdy
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of rollicking
Adjective
  • Add a striking focal point by nestling a statue fountain between groups of colorful flowers or lively foliage.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The smaller footprint here makes the car much livelier, and the acceleration feels never-ending.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively
Adjective
  • Follow the idea that opens the room, not the one that makes everything noisier.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Bose Bluetooth Headphones Deal Bose QuietComfort headphones deliver legendary noise cancellation, allowing students to effortlessly block out noisy study halls or loud dorm rooms.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • The stunts included burnouts in the middle of the intersection, which resulted in a violent collision with two of the bystanders.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.
    — Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of violent

Browse Nearby Words

rumblings
rumbustious
rumbustiousness
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Cite this Entry

“Rumbustious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbustious. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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