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

Derived Forms

• ramˈbunctiousness, noun
• ramˈbunctiously, adverb

Other Words From

• ram·bunctious·ly adverb
• ram·bunctious·ness noun

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

The audience at the Saturday matinee audience I attended was filled with young people who seemed delighted by the rambunctious high jinks.

From Los Angeles Times

Some news executives believe — perhaps wishfully — that the administration will focus on policy at the beginning and there will be less emphasis on the president-elect’s rambunctious personality.

From Los Angeles Times

In conversation, the rapper lives up to the implied duality in his name — alternating between quiet and rambunctious.

From Los Angeles Times

I was certain it was a result of my rambunctious golden retriever smashing into my legs.

From Los Angeles Times

In comments to the media, he said the Vanity Fair article contained a lot of “garbage” but conceded that he had a “very, very rambunctious youth” and that he was “not a church boy”.

From BBC

Related Words

• boisterous
• energetic
• raucous
• rowdy
• unruly