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
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 rumbustious
In the crowd at that rumbustious Democratic Convention in 1896 was a journeyman journalist, L. Frank Baum, who had a number of careers behind him by that time.
—
David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Around this time, the outfit’s quirky, lightly rumbustious songs began to resonate across British press and radio; accessible while containing a marked dose of strangeness, Fontaine’s songwriting – at once emotionally raw and witty – boasted a strong multi-generational appeal.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 8 May 2025
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
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
David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Around this time, the outfit’s quirky, lightly rumbustious songs began to resonate across British press and radio; accessible while containing a marked dose of strangeness, Fontaine’s songwriting – at once emotionally raw and witty – boasted a strong multi-generational appeal.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 8 May 2025
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumbustious
Adjective
-
Keep track of your tone while Mercury squares off with boisterous Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Ducks came out flying, more than matching the enthusiasm of the boisterous crowd.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The raucous entertainer, who made a name for himself 50 years ago in sketch comedy, has gone on to win several awards for his roles in SCTV episodes and Only Murders in the Building.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
For those who’ve preferred their raucous energy onstage, the New York rockers stopped by Blue Room, the concert venue inside Jack White’s Third Man Records, to record their own Live at Third Man Records LP in 2024.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Flyers fans stomped on the animal and nearly destroyed it before security scurried the souvenir away from the rambunctious crowd.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In contrast to the Sussex children’s rambunctious backyard egg hunt, the children of Prince William and Princess Catherine spent part of their Easter having to parade to church in front of dozens of cameras, looking buttoned-up in formal suits and coats.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The new league was started by William Hulbert, owner of the Chicago team, after the National Association collapsed because of issues ranging from corruption to rowdy, drunken ballplayers to gambling factions that damaged the integrity of the game.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The pair were in Tuscaloosa over the weekend to play in front of a rowdy and packed house at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and that included giving fans a look at some new music.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This lively street—lined with elegant colonial homes and cozy cafes and restaurants—culminates at the iconic Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, known for its nightly video-mapping shows projected in Spanish and in English.—
Regina Zumarraga,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The suit included some versions of Indiana’s trademark work, LOVE, which depicts the word love in lively serif characters, the LO situated atop the VE, with the O placed at an angle.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This means no two sensors are exactly alike, leading to noisy data and inconsistent results.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Lesser known but notably noisier acts were relegated to another section of the grounds, where the Diablo Stage stood, attracting non-stop aggressive movement.—
Lina Lecaro,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Opponents will learn about his violent play style very quickly.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The government actually deported more than six hundred and seventy-five thousand people, but getting just to that number involved broad and violent sweeps and the expulsion of people who were in the country legally, actions that led to widespread protests.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rumbustious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbustious. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
