as in horseplay
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
roughhousing was simply part of growing up in a family with four boys
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in wrestling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in clowning
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 roughhousing
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
The actor shared rare photos of the teen with his younger siblings, getting it in at the gym, hiking, and roughhousing.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughhousing
Noun
-
There was reportedly no horseplay or swerving during the ride, according to 9News.—
-
But what had once been raucous and raunchy mischief, was now benign horseplay.—
Verb
-
Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
-
Having trouble wrestling your little one into the bath?—
Noun
-
Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
-
Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Verb
-
But the Bills have won three straight road games, pummeling the Pittsburgh Steelers, storming back to beat the New England Patriots and holding on against the Cleveland Browns.—
-
Viral Cincinnati beatdown sparks racial tensions A violent beating in downtown Cincinnati rocked the nation after video of a group of Black suspects were filmed pummeling at least two White victims in images that quickly went viral online.—
Noun
-
This is why some people work nine hours a day, go to the gym, and roughhouse with their kids in the evening, while others already feel tired just thinking about this daily schedule.—
-
This makes the roughhouse ballet a satisfying bridge to the final scene in Roberta’s room, where their vulnerabilities are revealed.—
Verb
-
Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
-
That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Verb
-
The pair also pretended that Tammy was allegedly abusing them.—
-
Archbishop Mitty product and San Jose native Aaron Gordon scored 18 while abusing Podziemski and other Warriors guards in the low post.—
Verb
-
Meanwhile, as all of this is happening, Meredith is cutting up with the other ladies at the spa, without a care in the world.—
-
Ford is planning on cutting up to 1,000 roles in electric-vehicle production in Germany.—
Cite this Entry
“Roughhousing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughhousing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share