What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
roughneck
Example
The roughneck worked tirelessly on the oil rig. [roughneck: noun]
Example
He had a roughneck attitude towards life. [roughneck: adjective]
rowdy
Example
The rowdy crowd at the concert was making it difficult to enjoy the music. [rowdy: adjective]
Example
He got into a fight with some rowdies at the bar. [rowdies: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rowdy is more commonly used than roughneck in everyday language. Rowdy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while roughneck is less common and refers to a specific type of manual labor worker.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between roughneck and rowdy?
Neither roughneck nor rowdy are particularly formal words, but roughneck may be seen as more informal due to its association with manual labor jobs.
