as in boisterous
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
rowdies had overtaken the neighborhood and were threatening people on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 rowdy
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
Decades ago, one of the biggest draws for this corner of Appalachians was its rowdy annual beer fest.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2025
Wayne is a rowdy and rebellious teen, a type Cutkosky knows well thanks to his Shameless days.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 July 2025
The billboards could cheer on resistance efforts ongoing at Republican town-halls, where GOP incumbents are still having issues handling rowdy crowds.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Adjective
He’s loved getting to know London, though has been surprised to see some rowdy audiences over the 16-week-run (the American was warned plenty on how well, usually, Brits follow proper theater etiquette).
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
Decades ago, one of the biggest draws for this corner of Appalachians was its rowdy annual beer fest.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2025
Wayne is a rowdy and rebellious teen, a type Cutkosky knows well thanks to his Shameless days.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 July 2025
The billboards could cheer on resistance efforts ongoing at Republican town-halls, where GOP incumbents are still having issues handling rowdy crowds.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rowdy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rowdy
Adjective
-
Chatter in a crowded room, the grind of metal on train tracks and the boisterous wall of sound backstage at a gig were also effectively subdued but not completely obliterated.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Aug. 2025
-
As well as being a calming influence, older canines teach puppies social skills to interact with other dogs, by setting boundaries when the pup is being too boisterous and teaching them the body language that says enough is enough, according to a veterinary report from Vet Help Direct.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Peace isn’t easy to come by, though the motorcycle thugs who swing by to bully the locals and squeeze money out of the businesses don’t offer much resistance.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
-
As the ship prepared to leave port, the G men arrived, handcuffed the thug and dragged him away.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The arena quickly became synonymous with the Hornets’ teal, with its raucous crowds creating one of the loudest atmospheres in pro basketball.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The volume against Liverpool is certain to be high, and there are few better, more raucous arenas than an aggrieved St James’.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the original series, Dexter was a forensics technician who targeted the most heinous of criminals.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Stealing America's Most Famous Pair of Shoes (Hulu, Aug. 26) In 2005, one of the most ambitious movie memorabilia heists of all time happened, with a very unusual criminal behind it.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The street racing is all but sidelined for a rambunctious heist plot that culminates in a bank vault laying ruin to Rio de Janeiro, a sequence that numbers amongst the series’ most famous.—
Declan Gallagher,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The 40th felt rambunctious, a big, crazy emotional party.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The most nail-biting scene in the movie involves not a local tough but Claire, desperate in withdrawal, threatening to kidnap and kill the family dog if Kate doesn’t give her some money.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
-
Williams is already Beale Street jerky tough and looks like a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing.—
Kelly Iko,
The Athletic,
11 Apr. 2024
Adjective
-
From intimate evenings at home to lively dinner parties, Wine Chips make every sip more memorable.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
-
October, of course, is when the harvest will take place, and expect lively activities at all the wineries.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The book was about how his father chose conventional family values over the life of a gangster.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
-
That audio clip has been shared some 60,000 times on TikTok, often by Venezuelans ridiculing the notion that everybody from their country is a gangster.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rowdy. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share