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rowdy

rowdy

34 3.6
Making a lot of noise and disturbing other people
  • adjective
  • /ˈraʊdi/
translation icon : alborotado
  • The party became quite rowdy as more guests arrived and the music got louder.
  • rowdy behavior
  • get rowdy

It is going to be a rowdy couple of shows.

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Examples

  • The students were rowdy, inattentive, and did not seem interested in learning.

    Academic text (2015)
  • It is going to be a rowdy couple of shows.

  • And then we, you know, we just got rowdy and then we got them to like get on stage together.

  • Look at this rowdy bunch!

  • Things have gotten pretty rowdy.

  • It was pretty rowdy in a good way.

  • Usually they're not too rowdy, but tonight something was going on.

  • We are a creative, productive, rowdy learning space where shushing rarely happens and kids are our number-one customers.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Back by popular demand, please give a big, rowdy welcome, everyone's favorite mascot, AuzMan!

  • Bibi and I had known each other as undergraduates, floormates in a large, rowdy coed dorm.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

disruptive
vsrowdy
57 5.8

Causing trouble that interrupts normal activity

is noisy and disorderly in behaviour rather than specifically interruptive
unruly
vsrowdy
41 4.3

Difficult to control and messy or noisy

is noisy and disturbs others rather than only being hard to control
disorderly
vsrowdy
34 4.4

Behaving badly and not following rules

is noisy and rough, focusing on disturbance rather than rule breaking alone
raucous
vsrowdy
31 7.1

Making a loud, rough, and unpleasant sound that hurts your ears

is noisy and disorderly in behaviour rather than only harsh sound
boisterous
vsrowdy
18 4.7

Loud and energetic, like a happy crowd or party

is rougher and more likely to disturb or upset others
rambunctious
vsrowdy
13 7.5

Very noisy and full of energy that is hard to control

is loud and rough but centers more on disturbing others than energy
rough-and-tumble
vsrowdy
  • Informal
3 7.3

Energetic and rough, not following usual rules

is noisy and rough, focusing on disturbance rather than playful disorder
obstreperous
vsrowdy
3 9.9

Very noisy and hard to control, like a loud crowd

is noisy and disturbing but not necessarily as hard to control
riotous
vsrowdy
2 7.9

Noisy violent behavior in public that is out of control

is noisy and rough but generally less extreme or violent
hurly
vsrowdy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Noisy and disorderly like a busy crowd at a festival

is rough and disorderly with added sense of disturbing others
rumbustious
vsrowdy
  • Informal
9.9

Loud and lively in a rough, out of control way

is rough and disturbing rather than simply lively and unrestrained
roisterous
vsrowdy
  • Archaic
8.7

Loud and lively in a wild way

is louder and rougher, often causing disturbance rather than cheerfulness
rackety
vsrowdy
7.4

Very loud and rough, like an old bus or a noisy crowd

is rough and disturbing with an emphasis on disturbing others
larrikin
vsrowdy
  • Australian
9.9

Behaving in a noisy, cheeky way that ignores rules

is rough and disturbing but not necessarily mischievous or playful

Antonyms

428 1.0

Calm and quiet, without noise or trouble

How Rowdy

riotous
2 7.9
unruly
41 4.3
disorderly
4 4.5
rowdy
34 3.6
boisterous
18 4.7
noisy
125 1.0

Surface Forms

rowdy positive
rowdier comparative
rowdiest superlative

Morphology

rowdy = row (semi-transparent) = row + y

The adjective is built from 'row' (a noisy quarrel/disturbance) + '-y', which yields 'characterized by noise'; however, many learners know other senses of 'row' (line; to row a boat), so the derivation can be confusing.

Etymology

The word rowdy comes from the old word row meaning 'a noisy fight or argument', not the 'row' that means 'to move a boat'. People used row to talk about loud, rough scenes, and adding -y made it mean 'full of that noise'. So rowdy means 'noisy and rough', which is why we use it for loud, disorderly people or crowds.