rowdy

1 of 3

adjective

row·dy ˈrau̇-dē

rowdier; rowdiest

Synonyms of rowdy

: coarse or boisterous in behavior : rough

also : characterized by such behavior

rowdy local bars

rowdily

ˈrau̇-də-lē

adverb

rowdiness

ˈrau̇-dē-nəs

noun

rowdyish

ˈrau̇-dē-ish

adjective

rowdy

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural rowdies

: a rowdy person : tough

rowdiness

3 of 3

noun (2)

row·di·ness -dēnə̇s

-din-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being rowdy

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

Adjective a rowdy game of basketball a rowdy but good-natured group of teenagers Noun (1) rowdies had overtaken the neighborhood and were threatening people on the street

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Adjective

Still, devotees of John Waters, Sean Baker, Todd Solondz and the Safdie brothers will sense that DeFalco is a kindred spirit, a filmmaker with an open-minded curiosity about the rowdier parts of the human zoo. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Having been raised in a very golf-centric family myself, what struck me about your experience is how rowdy the tournament crowds have gotten. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 As previously reported, the release spawned a massive rowdy crowd outside of the brand’s Fifth Avenue store. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 There was no doubt about this home run, which went 401 feet and landed in front of the rowdiest, most dedicated section of the stadium bleachers. — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rowdy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

perhaps irregular from row entry 5

First Known Use

Adjective

1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1865, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of rowdy was in 1832

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

row down

rowdy

rowdydow

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rowdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rowdy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rowdy

1 of 2 adjective

row·dy ˈrau̇d-ē

rowdier; rowdiest

: rough or loud in behavior

rowdiness noun

rowdy

2 of 2 noun

plural rowdies

: a rowdy person

rowdy

adjective

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms of rowdy

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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rowdy

adjective

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms of rowdy

Examples of rowdy in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for rowdy

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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