rough-and-tumble

1 of 2

noun

rough-and-tum·ble ˌrə-fən-ˈtəm-bəl

Synonyms of rough-and-tumble next

: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling

also : infighting

rough-and-tumble

2 of 2

adjective

: marked by rough-and-tumble

grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphere—

E. J. Kahn

also : rough-and-ready

: 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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rough-and-tumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-and-tumble. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

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