rough-and-tumble
1 of 2noun
rough-and-tum·ble ˌrə-fən-ˈtəm-bəl 
: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling
also : infighting
rough-and-tumble
2 of 2adjective
1
: marked by rough-and-tumble
grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphere
E. J. Kahn
E. J. Kahn also : rough-and-ready
2
: put together haphazardly : makeshift
a rough-and-tumble fence
Synonyms
Noun
- affray [chiefly British]
- brawl
- broil
- donnybrook
- fracas
- fray
- free-for-all
- melee
- mêlée
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
Adjective
- artless
- clumsy
- crude
- jerry-built
- jerry-rigged
- jury-rigged
- rough
- rough-and-ready
- rough-hewn
- rude
- unrefined
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1810, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1
rough-and-tumble 1 of 2
adjective
as in rough
hastily or roughly constructed the announcement of his candidacy was made from a rough-and-tumble stage put together just that morning Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rough
- clumsy
- crude
- rude
- primitive
- flawed
- rough-and-ready
- imperfect
- rudimentary
- artless
- unrefined
- defective
- unfinished
- rough-hewn
- amateur
- jerry-built
- jury-rigged
- jerry-rigged
- unpolished
- imprecise
- faulty
- inexact
- unskilled
- inartistic
- amateurish
- unprofessional
- undressed
- unskillful
- inexpert
- unshaped
- unworked
- unshapen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refined
- perfect
- polished
- sophisticated
- workmanlike
- meticulous
- skillful
- flawless
- neat
- adept
- faultless
- finished
- artistic
- dexterous
- masterful
- perfected
- artful
- expert
- dextrous
- adroit
- practised
- practiced
- masterly
- precise
- well-done
- exact
rough-and-tumble
2 of 2noun
as in brawl
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands Synonyms & Similar Words
- brawl
- clash
- altercation
- melee
- fray
- mêlée
- donnybrook
- ruckus
- fracas
- skirmish
- tussle
- affray
- free-for-all
- scuffle
- fisticuffs
- roughhousing
- broil
- ruction
- row
- battle
- scrimmage
- struggle
- combat
- argument
- horseplay
- conflict
- squabble
- dispute
- contest
- spat
- quarrel
- tiff
- wrangle
- scrap
- handgrips
- hassle
- kickup
