rough-and-tumble

1 of 2

noun

rough-and-tum·​ble ˌrə-fən-ˈtəm-bəl How to pronounce rough-and-tumble (audio)
: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling
also : infighting

rough-and-tumble

2 of 2

adjective

1
: marked by rough-and-tumble
grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphereE. J. Kahn
2
: put together haphazardly : makeshift
a rough-and-tumble fence

Examples of rough-and-tumble in a Sentence

Noun a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands Adjective the announcement of his candidacy was made from a rough-and-tumble stage put together just that morning
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
That’s the really rough-and-tumble side of insomnia. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Both wear styling reminiscent of the International Harvester Scout, a rough-and-tumble off-road truck from the 1960s and '70s. Michael Dobuski, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The trappings of the Senate were another world from Mr. Abourezk’s rough-and-tumble childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where his Lebanese parents had immigrated and ran a general store. Stephen Groves, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023 The startup’s rough-and-tumble experiments are even more telling. Justine Calma, The Verge, 24 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for rough-and-tumble 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-and-tumble was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near rough-and-tumble

Cite this Entry

“Rough-and-tumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-and-tumble. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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