rough-and-tumble
Boisterous physical competition
Rough-and-tumble describes disorderly, unrestrained physical activity—fighting, wrestling, or boisterous play without formal rules: the rough-and-tumble of the schoolyard.
Extended to any competitive arena where conduct is aggressive and civility scarce: the rough-and-tumble of electoral politics.
As a noun, it names this kind of struggle: He wasn't built for rough-and-tumble.
Noisily disorderly
- rambunctiousUncontrollably lively and loud
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- rowdinessNoisy, disorderly behavior
- roughhousingRowdy physical play
horseplay · scuffle · tussle · wrestling · jostling · shoving · pushing · scrappy
Playful, spirited activity
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- wrestleEngage in physical combat
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- cavortPlay with lively movement
rollick · gambol · skylark · tussle · horseplay · playfighting · sparring · grappling
Viciously competitive or murderous
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- scrappyAggressively spirited despite odds
dog-eat-dog · ruthless · hard-fought · bruising · contentious · adversarial · no-holds-barred · knockdown
Tough and uneven
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
- rawIn original state
- coarseRough in texture
- unrefinedNot processed or polished
gritty · earthy · scrappy · hardscrabble · unsophisticated · unpretentious · nitty-gritty · grassroots
rowdy
Noisily disorderly
- rambunctiousUncontrollably lively and loud
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- rowdinessNoisy, disorderly behavior
roughhousing · horseplay · scuffle · tussle · wrestling · jostling · shoving · pushing · scrappy · knockabout
romp
Playful, spirited activity
cavort · rollick · gambol · skylark · tussle · horseplay · playfighting · sparring · grappling · playground
cutthroat
Viciously competitive or murderous
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
scrappy · dog-eat-dog · ruthless · hard-fought · bruising · contentious · adversarial · no-holds-barred · knockdown · hardball
rugged
Tough and uneven
unrefined · gritty · earthy · scrappy · hardscrabble · unsophisticated · unpretentious · nitty-gritty · grassroots · blue-collar
rough-and-tumbleorderly
Arranged with care
refined · polished · controlled · disciplined · structured
rough-and-tumblegenteel
Affectedly polite or refined
refined · polished · sophisticated · elegant · cultivated
rough-and-tumblepeaceful
Free from disturbance
harmonious · gentle · amicable · civil · cooperative
rough, tumble, roughly, tumbling, tumbler, tumbled, roughness, tumbles, roughest