rash

¹

[ rash ]

adjective

, rash·er, rash·est.

1. acting or tending to act too hastily or without due consideration.

   Synonyms: foolhardy, indiscreet, precipitate, incautious, venturous, reckless, impetuous, hasty

   Antonyms: cautious

2. characterized by or showing too great haste or lack of consideration:

   rash promises.

rash

²

[ rash ]

noun

1. an eruption or efflorescence on the skin.
2. a multitude of instances of something occurring more or less during the same period of time:

   a rash of robberies last month.

rash

¹

/ ræʃ /

adjective

1. acting without due consideration or thought; impetuous
2. characterized by or resulting from excessive haste or impetuosity

   a rash word

rash

²

/ ræʃ /

noun

1. pathol any skin eruption
2. a series of unpleasant and unexpected occurrences

   a rash of forest fires

Derived Forms

• ˈrashness, noun
• ˈrashly, adverb
• ˈrashˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• rash·ly adverb
• rash·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rash¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; cognate with Dutch, German rasch “quick, brisk,” Old Norse rǫskr “brave”

Origin of rash²

1700–10; < French rache (obsolete), Old French rasche skin eruption, derivative of raschier to scratch, ultimately < Latin rādere to scratch

Word History and Origins

Origin of rash¹

C14: from Old High German rasc hurried, clever; related to Old Norse roskr brave

Origin of rash²

C18: from Old French rasche , from raschier to scratch, from Latin rādere to scrape

Example Sentences

And it is not clear that there have been a rash of lawsuits from outraged parents over aggressive Christmastime greetings.

From The Daily Beast

The results of that rash decision, the most dire of which has been the rise of ISIS, are now plain for us to see.

From The Daily Beast

His judgments are not rash or driven by insecurity, fear, and a longing for the past.

From The Daily Beast

A rash of crimes against gay and trans* people point to a possible brewing class resentment in the “hip” parts of Brooklyn.

From The Daily Beast

Most have been straightforward cases where the child came in with the characteristic rash.

From The Daily Beast

Hence Napoleon was driven more and more to trust to the advice of the rash, unstable King of Naples.

From Project Gutenberg

Garnache need not plague himself with vexation that his rash temper alone had wrought his ruin now.

From Project Gutenberg

Should he hire a horse and kill the animal by rash driving, he would be liable for its value.

From Project Gutenberg

But glorious as his conduct was, his rash impetuosity more than once seriously compromised Napoleon's plans.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a mere boy, who, in a rash skirmish with some of our hussars, was wounded severely and taken prisoner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• epidemic
• eruption
• flood
• spate
• wave