roughhouse
Playful physical tussling
Roughhouse is boisterous, physical play that stops short of actual fighting—wrestling, tumbling, shoving.
Kids roughhouse; siblings roughhouse; puppies roughhouse.
The word works as both noun and verb: The boys were roughhousing in the living room or That's enough roughhouse for one afternoon.
The play is rowdy but usually good-natured.
Engage in physical combat
- tussleBrief physical struggle
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- grappleSeize and fight closely
- jostlePush roughly against
shoving · pushing · tumble · tackle · pounce · grab · shove · manhandle
Playful, spirited activity
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- cavortPlay with lively movement
- gambolPlayful leaping about
rambunctious · rowdy · raucous · unruly · wild · noisy · spirited · exuberant
Disorderly group fight
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
skirmish · fracas · fray · donnybrook · kerfuffle · affray · free-for-all · rumble
wrestle
Engage in physical combat
jostle · shoving · pushing · tumble · tackle · pounce · grab · shove · manhandle · scrappy
romp
Playful, spirited activity
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- cavortPlay with lively movement
gambol · rambunctious · rowdy · raucous · unruly · wild · noisy · spirited · exuberant · energetic
brawl
Disorderly group fight
- scuffleBrief disorderly struggle
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
altercation · skirmish · fracas · fray · donnybrook · kerfuffle · affray · free-for-all · rumble · clash
horseplay
Boisterous rough behavior
- prankPlayful trick on someone
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- mischiefPlayful troublesome behavior
skylark · lark · jest · fooling · clowning · tomfoolery · hijinks · fun · goofing · kidding