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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021
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
In August Tito Mboweni, his rumbustious finance minister, published a paper proposing sweeping yet doable reforms.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
Another popular view holds that Mr Trump’s rude and rumbustious character is really a merit in a time of great geopolitical and spiritual danger.
—The Economist, 5 July 2019
Ausilia, destined for spinsterhood, switches her spying from the lovers to the rumbustious, intimidating Jewish family who gather around the couple.
—Tim Parks, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
The rumbustious suffragettes are relegated to small etchings on the new statue’s plinth, a marginalisation that hints at lingering unease with their methods.
—The Economist, 19 Apr. 2018
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021
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
In August Tito Mboweni, his rumbustious finance minister, published a paper proposing sweeping yet doable reforms.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
Another popular view holds that Mr Trump’s rude and rumbustious character is really a merit in a time of great geopolitical and spiritual danger.
—The Economist, 5 July 2019
Ausilia, destined for spinsterhood, switches her spying from the lovers to the rumbustious, intimidating Jewish family who gather around the couple.
—Tim Parks, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
The rumbustious suffragettes are relegated to small etchings on the new statue’s plinth, a marginalisation that hints at lingering unease with their methods.
—The Economist, 19 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumbustious
Adjective
-
Yet, amid a celebration that had been years in the making for many in the boisterous locker room, attention was already turning to what comes next.Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
-
The boisterous music of their debut album Fine Art propels the antics, and Peppiatt’s psychedelic cinematography (plus, some use of claymation) brings a kinetic energy to the biopic genre.Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
This impulse is amplified by the decentralized American system—especially its free media and raucous Congress—which empowers voices, including those of diaspora populations, businesses, human rights organizations, and the national security bureaucracy, to advocate for various actions overseas.Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
-
Otherwise, the Ravens celebration that followed the win was neither raucous nor lengthy.Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Xavier was rambunctious, mischievous and a challenge to corral with schoolwork.Matt Schneidman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
-
Their instructions to their designers, Ms. Han said, was to devise an interior that was clean, calm and clutter-free but also punctuated by creative details that were hard-wearing enough to stand up to rambunctious play.Tim McKeough, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Cricket’s rowdiest raw recruit gatecrashed the MCG with a stunning half-century and is now letting off the sledging megaphone in Sydney.Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
-
Casting some of his Python buddies (Michael Palin, John Cleese) and legends like Sean Connery, Ian Holm, David Warner, and many more, Time Bandits is an imaginative fairy tale about a boy who travels through time with a group of rowdy thieves.Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2023
-
His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.Sonal Dutt, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
There’s lively interplay with Rick Rosato on bass and Jonathan Pinson on drums.Giovanni Russonello, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
-
Given its flavor and sensory profiles, Barbera is an ideal selection at lunch, especially as its lively acidity cuts through the fatty qualities of all types of salumi.Tom Hyland, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
His personal airplane, a noisy 727, is banned from takeoff and landing between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
-
The screen rolls out from underneath the keyboard, with a noisy motor taking a few seconds to turn the device into a laptop with a very tall display.Barry Collins, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In it, Elphaba and Galinda profess their undying friendship; suffice it to say that Grande found the notion of treating her co-star with violent hostility an acting challenge.Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Jan. 2025
-
Against a backdrop of violent tensions between Egyptians and various African nationalities, Aisha’s situation turns sour after a local gang offers her protection in exchange for a favor.Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rumbustious
Cite this Entry
“Rumbustious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbustious. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share