rash 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of rashnext
as in impulsive
acting or done with excessive or careless speed that was too rash a move, for now I've lost my bishop and probably the whole chess game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rash

2 of 2

noun

as in plague

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rash are adventurous, daredevil, daring, foolhardy, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When is adventurous a more appropriate choice than rash?

The words adventurous and rash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

Where would daredevil be a reasonable alternative to rash?

The synonyms daredevil and rash are sometimes interchangeable, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for rash?

The words daring and rash can be used in similar contexts, but daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When can foolhardy be used instead of rash?

While the synonyms foolhardy and rash are close in meaning, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

In what contexts can reckless take the place of rash?

The meanings of reckless and rash largely overlap; however, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When could venturesome be used to replace rash?

In some situations, the words venturesome and rash are roughly equivalent. However, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

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 rash
Adjective
The most common side effects include a low-grade fever, rash and soreness where the vaccine is administered in the body. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
That comes after a rash of deaths, injuries and prosecutions in Orange County and elsewhere in California associated with the electric vehicles. — Ryanne Mena, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2026 The continued appearance of the virus’ telltale rash in state after state since last year warns of cracks in our once-solid protection, leaving communities vulnerable to other deadly contagions. — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rash
  1. impulsive
  2. plague
  3. hurried
  4. epidemic
  5. sudden
  6. spate
  7. hasty
  8. raft
Adjective
  • The actor starred on The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, the cousin of Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano who often ends up in trouble because of his impulsive ways.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But as with any James Gray film, there are life-altering consequences on the other side of impulsive decision-making for the sake of the American dream.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Noun
  • Many of us hear talk of plague and think that humanity, as ever, will manage to muddle through.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The two soon stumble back into the cult that created the plague doctor — a cult in which people are killed and resurrected, taken apart and rebuilt.
    — S.M. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Adjective
  • Go in April, May, September, or October, when boat days are easier and the town feels less hurried.
    — Mikael Castro, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hours later, across the globe, after the Dodgers dispatched the San Diego Padres in a season-opening win – and after Mizuhara served as Ohtani’s interpreter in a hurried and rushed postgame media scrum – Hiltzik called ESPN again.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of hurried
Noun
  • Eligibility crisis Defense officials have long warned that America's obesity epidemic is a national security problem, shrinking the pool of young people eligible to serve -- which has translated to reductions in recruitment.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • California’s most severe measles epidemic in recent memory occurred between 1988 and 1990 — an era before health officials recommended children receive a second dose of the measles vaccine.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • The sudden push toward scale marks a shift for a technology that spent years looking more like a Silicon Valley experiment than a serious alternative to putting a package in a car.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The morning after their fight, Russia invades Ukraine, and the two go on with their separation amid the backdrop of sudden social upheaval.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of sudden
Noun
  • OpenAI is unveiling new, stronger security safeguards around its training and testing in light of new model capabilities and a spate of incidents in which artificial intelligence systems hacked into other companies.
    — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Many remember the spate of lawsuits against Anthropic, for pirating book data, some of which are still going on.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of spate
Adjective
  • Thankfully, the lessons from that hasty dash towards the fringes of our towns and cities in the 1990s and early 2000s seem to have been learned.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Now that the finish line is in sight, don’t be hasty and ruin all your hard work.
    — Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 13 July 2026
Definition of hasty
Noun
  • The current $100 base fee per board, kayak or paddle raft includes a shuttle to the put-in up river, Bass said; rentals are typically for three hours.
    — Mark Dee August 18, Idaho Statesman, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Maceta would sometimes have to go and lift him out of his raft and bear him to his bed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of raft

Browse Nearby Words

rascals
rash
rashes
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Cite this Entry

“Rash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rash. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rash

Nglish: Translation of rash for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rash

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