ROUGHHOUSE Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

roughhouse 1 of 2

noun

ˈrəf-ˌhau̇s

Definition of roughhouse

as in roughhousing

wildly playful or mischievous behavior their parents simply wouldn't tolerate any roughhouse in the living room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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roughhouse

2 of 2

verb

as in to wrestle

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in to cut up

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 roughhouse

Noun

Geno lost his composure at the end of the game, picked up a T, then critiqued South Carolina’s roughhouse style. — Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Feb. 2023 Brazil’s team, a double defending champion, had been eliminated in the group stage in the 1966 championship in England, with Pelé literally kicked out of the tournament by the roughhouse play of Brazil’s opponents. — Tariq Panja, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022

Verb

In the clip, four male golden retriever puppies were roughhousing. — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 While the attempt is made to laugh this off as the result of some sort of roughhousing with Chelsea, even Chrishell suggests to the camera that there’s a more adult explanation. — Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for roughhouse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughhouse

Noun

As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.

— Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.

— Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026

Definition of roughhousing

Verb

Unlike Netflix, Disney is wrestling with the ongoing deterioration of linear TV.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Countless poets have wrestled with this question, either writing about dreams directly or invoking them through the dreamlike manipulation of words and ideas.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrestle

Verb

Cityside, guests can head to the thumping heart of Austin nightlife where the Live Music Capital of the World always has a new favorite act and dance floor to cut up waiting just around the corner.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
In July, the Public Service Commission requested utilities submit plans to cut up to 45% of savings from the program.

— Tom Nyein, Baltimore Sun, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of cut up

Noun

The video depicts a group of students engaged in horseplay, progressing to two 15-year-olds tussling and laughing, according to the suit.

— Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
The undefeated South Dakota Coyotes prowled into Albertsons Stadium this weekend and turned what could have been an evening of horseplay for the Broncos into a dogfight.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of horseplay

Verb

Of course, parents should intervene when a coach is abusive or a child is genuinely being mistreated.

— Jonathan Alpert OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Neighbors said the man began kicking and mistreating the dog before eventually luring the husky away from the yard with food.

— Hunter Sowards, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of mistreat

Verb

There are certainly fans and pundits who feel that anything short of a title shouldn’t be celebrated in sports, and some who think carousing over anything less is especially beneath the Yankees, who have won 27 World Series but zero since 2009.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026
Three sitting rooms are complemented by a further three members’ social spaces for carousing in, concealed behind a subtle screen (here, DJs including Goldierocks make appearances, and mobile snaps are banned; staff politely place a sticker over mobile camera lenses).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026

Definition of carouse

Noun

Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.

— Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of joking

Verb

As Georgia recovers from the storm’s high winds and heavy rain that pummeled the state over the weekend, a reprieve appears to be up ahead.

— Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Waves pummeled south-facing beaches in Southern California on Friday, flooding communities as Tropical Storm Rachel approaches the West Coast.

— N. Kirkpatrick, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of pummel

Browse Nearby Words

rough-hewn

roughhouse

roughhoused

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“Roughhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhouse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of roughhouse

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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