hell-raising

adjective

as in rowdy
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way would often reminisce with his buddies about their hell-raising adventures as teenagers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hell-raising Still, he's still got plenty of hell-raising left in him. — Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hell-raising
  1. rowdy
  2. rambunctious
  3. boisterous
  4. raucous
  5. rollicking
  6. rumbustious
  7. violent
  8. lively
Adjective
  • Compared to a juggernaut festival like Glasto — known for its sprawling grounds, mandatory camping and rowdy atmosphere — Øya, which kicks off on Wednesday, delivers a more intimate experience.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When Labor Day passes, the rowdy weekenders become a not-so-distant memory as Montauk settles into a quieter rhythm.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rowdy
Adjective
  • By later this evening, the moon will also join forces with Mars, which is where the energy becomes noticeably faster and possibly rambunctious.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Assistant defensive backs coach Duane Akina, who, despite rapidly approaching 70 years of age, was perhaps the spriest, most energetic and most rambunctious soul on the field.
    — Latif Love August 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rambunctious
Adjective
  • Lake celebrated her win Tuesday night with a small but boisterous watch party at Cliff’s Tavern in midtown Kansas City.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Once a lawyerly panel, a takeover by a trio of conservatives deeply mistrustful of the state’s voting system has turned the board’s once mundane meetings into boisterous events packed with crowds of cheering and jeering activists.
    — Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of boisterous
Adjective
  • The question, asked by a potential juror, was met immediately with raucous laughter in the courtroom.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • So, yes, the raucous, rowdy Bills crowds that sometimes stood the entire game at the old Highmark Stadium might be going away.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of raucous
Adjective
  • Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of rollicking
Adjective
  • The movie is both exquisite and rumbustious, stylized and energized.
    — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 May 2022
  • 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
Definition of rumbustious
Adjective
  • Cox, whose home overlooks the scenic drive, said she's seen several violent crashes along the road.
    — Laurie Perez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In an unusual move just a few months before the midterm elections as many Republicans continue to tout the drop in crime, the FBI report also noted that violent and other crime has continued to drop during the first six months of 2026.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • The sightlines are good and the atmosphere lively, confirming the potential of Plymouth, the biggest city in the country never to have hosted a top-flight football club.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Shipley-Welter remembers when the town was more lively, with open storefronts and a nearby grocery store.
    — Julianna Mejia August 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lively

Browse Nearby Words

hellos
hell-raising
hells
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Cite this Entry

“Hell-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hell-raising. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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