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
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Recent Examples of rumbustious
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
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021
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
In August Tito Mboweni, his rumbustious finance minister, published a paper proposing sweeping yet doable reforms.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
Another popular view holds that Mr Trump’s rude and rumbustious character is really a merit in a time of great geopolitical and spiritual danger.
—The Economist, 5 July 2019
Ausilia, destined for spinsterhood, switches her spying from the lovers to the rumbustious, intimidating Jewish family who gather around the couple.
—Tim Parks, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
Sophie Williams, Billboard, 8 May 2025
The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
From 1657, when tea first became available in London’s coffeehouses, to the early seventeen-hundreds, when women were invited in, recreational tea drinking was the preserve of rumbustious gentlemen.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021
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
In August Tito Mboweni, his rumbustious finance minister, published a paper proposing sweeping yet doable reforms.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
Another popular view holds that Mr Trump’s rude and rumbustious character is really a merit in a time of great geopolitical and spiritual danger.
—The Economist, 5 July 2019
Ausilia, destined for spinsterhood, switches her spying from the lovers to the rumbustious, intimidating Jewish family who gather around the couple.
—Tim Parks, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumbustious
Adjective
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Even amid the more boisterous parts of the track, the speakers pick out the subtleties.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
-
Elizabeth is friendly and warm, but not as boisterous as Olivia.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
The 16th annual Big Slick weekend publicly kicked off at The K with a raucous celebrity softball game, led by hosts Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner and Heidi Gardner — plus all of their closest friends.—
Ramal Nasim,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2025
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While generating political polemics, Sunday’s vote has not triggered the raucous street rallies that generally accompany Mexican balloting.—
Patrick J. McDonnell,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Set 60-90 minutes aside—without those rambunctious kids around and with your favorite deliberative beverage—and tell your personal money stories to one another.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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The reality star, 19, became an early rising star for her quippy one-liners and rambunctious persona on TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Lexington brought tenacity, composure and high-level play from the opening serve, trading thunderous kills, eye-opening defense, and long rallies throughout in front of a rowdy crowd fit for state tournament game.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2025
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Sørensen said his team is aware of the rowdy, sometimes absurd comment sections.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
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His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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In lieu of bunking in the 4,000-square-foot Lord House, built in 1962 just off of Mulholland Drive, rent it out by the hour and host a lively pool party.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2025
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Thus began a lively rivalry with Lee, who quickly learned Clemens possesses a killer serve.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
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At a 78th Cannes, which on the party side wasn’t as noisy as previous ones with drone shows (2022’s Elvis) and Elton John performing on the beach (2019’s Rocketman), leave it to amfAR‘s 31st fashionista blowout Cannes Gala at Hotel Du Cap at Eden Roc to steal the show.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet the Brazilian proceeded to show how Pereira’s faith was misplaced, first with a stroppy performance at Chelsea that prompted his head coach to publicly criticise his body language and then with his second violent meltdown of the season, against Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in the FA Cup.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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The prosecution appears poised to use Combs' feud with Knight, as well as another series of encounters with rapper Kid Cudi, as demonstrative of a violent streak.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rumbustious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbustious. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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