ruckus

noun

ruck·​us

ˈrə-kəs,

 also  ˈrü-,

or

ˈru̇- 

plural ruckuses

1

: a noisy fight or disturbance : row, commotion

raise/cause/create a ruckus

heard a ruckus down the street

He went outside to see what all the ruckus was about.

The dogs … typically would set off quite a ruckus whenever they heard something in the woods …

—Larry Livermore

2

: a state or situation in which many people are angry or upset : fuss, uproar

… IHOP recently caused a social media ruckus after announcing it would change its name …

—Lauren Delgado

… the county's GOP is embroiled in a lively legal ruckus over an attempt to seize control of the party.

—Charles Burress

Synonyms

• affray [chiefly British]
• brawl
• broil
• donnybrook
• fracas
• fray
• free-for-all
• melee
• mêlée
• rough-and-tumble
• row
• ruction

Examples of ruckus in a Sentence

the ruckus left one person with a sprained wrist

quit creating such a ruckus—I'm trying to sleep!

Recent Examples on the Web

Last week, Jacob Elordi was in Morocco for Marrakech’s International Film Festival, serving as a juror alongside Andrew Garfield and Luca Guadagnino, and causing a ruckus for his bold beard debut. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Dec. 2024

The 57-year-old woman, who possessed a Russian passport, will stay put in France and not return to the U.S. just yet after causing a ruckus at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 1 Dec. 2024

Provides real-time conversation starters that avoid ruckus trouble. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

For Blood Incantation, the metal mandate to seek extremity is joyously open-ended, freeing them to explore quietude as often as ruckus. —Stephen Kearse, TIME, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of ruction and rumpus

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ruckus

• raise a ruckus

Kids Definition

ruckus

noun

ruck·​us ˈrək-əs 

ˈrük-,

ˈru̇k-

: row entry 4