roughhouse

1 of 2

noun

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

: violence or rough boisterous play

roughhouse

2 of 2

verb

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

-ˌhau̇z

roughhoused; roughhousing

transitive verb

: to treat in a boisterously rough manner

intransitive verb

: to engage in roughhouse

Synonyms

Noun

• buffoonery
• clownery
• clowning
• foolery
• high jinks
• hijinks
• horseplay
• horsing around
• monkey business
• monkeying
• monkeyshine(s)
• roughhousing
• shenanigan(s)
• skylarking
• slapstick
• tomfoolery

Examples of roughhouse in a Sentence

Noun

their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room

Verb

The kids were roughhousing in the living room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This makes the roughhouse ballet a satisfying bridge to the final scene in Roberta’s room, where their vulnerabilities are revealed. —Peter Marks, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023

Weighing between eight and 10 pounds, these pooches are not ideal for young kids who tend to roughhouse. —Country Living, 1 May 2023

Verb

There were nights spent roughhousing at the fire station, maybe engaging in a pillow fight or two. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024

These inflatable body bumpers do just that while also ensuring that kiddos don’t get hurt while roughhousing in the backyard, park, or beach. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 14 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

roughhouse

1 of 2 noun

rough·​house ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s 

: violence or rough noisy play

roughhouse

2 of 2 verb

rough·​house -ˌhau̇s 

-ˌhau̇z

roughhoused; roughhousing

: to take part in roughhouse