rambunctious

[ram-buhngk-shuhs]

adjective

1. difficult to control or handle; wildly boisterous.

   a rambunctious child.

2. turbulently active and noisy.

   a social gathering that became rambunctious and out of hand.

rambunctious

/ ræmˈbʌŋkʃəs /

adjective

1. informal,  boisterous; unruly

Other Word Forms

• rambunctiousness noun
• rambunctiously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rambunctious¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of rambunctious¹

C19: probably from Icelandic ram- (intensifying prefix) + -bunctious , from _bumptious

Example Sentences

When it came to the threat of internal violence and score-settling by Hamas in Gaza, he said that Hamas had been "quite rambunctious" and "they've been doing some shooting".

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He’ll muscle in on a murder investigation — someone in that fire had already been shot dead — and stick around to co-star in this rambunctious series.

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Decades before it became the Andaz West Hollywood, this high-rise Hyatt hotel earned the nickname “Riot House” due to the rambunctious behavior of its famous clientele.

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The Scot was also put off by a rambunctious fan behind the baseline - who was initially loudly supporting him before switching to root for Bautista Agut.

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Decades before it became the Andaz West Hollywood, this high-rise hotel earned the nickname “Riot House” due to the rambunctious behavior of its famous clientele.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boisterous 
• energetic 
• raucous 
• rowdy 
• unruly