1 rough-and-tumble | Definition of rough-and-tumble
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rough-and-tumble

noun
rough-and-tum·​ble | \ ËŒrÉ™-fÉ™n-ˈtÉ™m-bÉ™l How to pronounce rough-and-tumble (audio) \

Definition of rough-and-tumble

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling also : infighting

rough-and-tumble

adjective

Definition of rough-and-tumble (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : marked by rough-and-tumble grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphere— E. J. Kahn also : rough-and-ready
2 : put together haphazardly : makeshift a rough-and-tumble fence

Synonyms & Antonyms for rough-and-tumble

Synonyms: Noun

affray [chiefly British], brawl, broil, donnybrook, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee (also mêlée), row, ruckus, ruction

Synonyms: Adjective

artless, clumsy, crude, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-hewn, rude, unrefined

Antonyms: Adjective

refined

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First Known Use of rough-and-tumble

Noun

1810, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for rough-and-tumble

rough-and-tumble

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of rough-and-tumble

: disorderly, loud, and rough
: very competitive and aggressive

See the full definition for rough-and-tumble in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on rough-and-tumble

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rough-and-tumble

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