rambunctious
Hard to contain
Rambunctious describes boisterous, unruly, and energetically uncontrollable behavior—typically applied to children or animals: The rambunctious puppies knocked over the lamp.
It suggests high spirits rather than malice, carrying affection alongside exasperation: After three hours with six rambunctious toddlers, I needed a nap.
Noisily cheerful and energetic
- playfulInclined toward fun
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
- prankishFond of tricks
antic · rascally · scamp · roughhousing · romping · rollicking · unruly · spirited
Noisily disorderly
- noisyProducing much sound
- loudHigh in volume
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- uproariousExtremely and loudly comedic
clamorous · riotous · tumultuous · obstreperous · disorderly · rollicking · rough-and-tumble · roughhousing
Animated and energetic
- exuberantIntensely lively and cheerful
- spiritedFull of vim
- animatedFull of life, or drawn moving
- vivaciousAttractively energetic and enthusiastic
ebullient · effervescent · high-spirited · peppy · frisky · frolicsome · bouncy · bubbly
Impossible to control
- uncontrollableImpossible to restrain
- undisciplinedLacking self-control or order
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- defiantOpenly resisting control
mischievous · troublesome · wayward · headstrong · willful · rebellious · obstinate · wild
boisterous
Noisily cheerful and energetic
- playfulInclined toward fun
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- impishPlayfully mischievous in manner
prankish · antic · rascally · scamp · roughhousing · romping · rollicking · unruly · spirited · excitable
rowdy
Noisily disorderly
uproarious · clamorous · riotous · tumultuous · obstreperous · disorderly · rollicking · rough-and-tumble · roughhousing · horseplay
lively
Animated and energetic
vivacious · ebullient · effervescent · high-spirited · peppy · frisky · frolicsome · bouncy · bubbly · sprightly
unmanageable
Impossible to control
- uncontrollableImpossible to restrain
- undisciplinedLacking self-control or order
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
defiant · mischievous · troublesome · wayward · headstrong · willful · rebellious · obstinate · wild · out of control
- American slangbamboozle, bogus, bunkum, conniption, discombobulate
- childlike traitsplayful, curious, innocent, imaginative, young
- disorderchaos, chaotic, disarray, mess, disordered
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
rambunctiouswell-behaved
Conducting oneself properly
orderly · disciplined · obedient · controlled · docile