rash 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of rashnext
as in impulsive
acting or done with excessive or careless speed that was too rash a move, for now I've lost my bishop and probably the whole chess game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rash

2 of 2

noun

as in plague

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rash contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rash are adventurous, daredevil, daring, foolhardy, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When is adventurous a more appropriate choice than rash?

The words adventurous and rash are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

Where would daredevil be a reasonable alternative to rash?

The synonyms daredevil and rash are sometimes interchangeable, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for rash?

The words daring and rash can be used in similar contexts, but daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When can foolhardy be used instead of rash?

While the synonyms foolhardy and rash are close in meaning, foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

In what contexts can reckless take the place of rash?

The meanings of reckless and rash largely overlap; however, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When could venturesome be used to replace rash?

In some situations, the words venturesome and rash are roughly equivalent. However, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rash
Adjective
Measles symptoms include several days of fever, rash, pink eye, runny nose and cough. — Katie Wiseman, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026 Health officials said anyone who may have been exposed should look out for symptoms including a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Weiss had to work through a rash of injuries that forced him to juggle his lineup all season. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Florida would never recover after that, as a rash of injuries to other star players in addition to their captain saw the Panthers go from Cup favorites to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rash
  1. impulsive
  2. plague
  3. hurried
  4. epidemic
  5. sudden
  6. spate
  7. hasty
  8. raft
Adjective
  • Low self-control, in contrast, is a core contributing factor to numerous problems, including substance abuse and impulsive buying.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Cage has answered with the impulsive, erratic, and frenzied style now allegorized in Spider-Noir as Reilly’s inner monster.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Noun
  • The Russian Federation replied on Tuesday, saying no case of plague had recently been reported in the Irkutsk Oblast, in southeastern Siberia, and that about 200 contacts had been placed in quarantine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The infection triggers swollen, painful lymph nodes and can progress to septicemic plague.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Adjective
  • Homemade enchiladas might sound like a laborious weekend project, but with a few clever tricks, this version made with black beans and pumpkin can be whipped up on even the most hurried of work nights.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurried
Noun
  • The loneliness epidemic For young workers, the loneliness epidemic has meant building a career without face-to-face interactions, submitting resumes online blindly and typing up cover letters for nameless recruiters.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This led me to report on the epidemic of car crime around the city and how anti-theft technology made some cars harder to steal than others.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of epidemic
Adjective
  • There’s a fascinating synchronicity between the current real-world anxiety and the film industry’s sudden interest in dense studies of the tech world’s dark underbelly.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Other symptoms include sudden high fever and chills, headaches, and pain in the abdomen, legs and arms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sudden
Noun
  • Then came the ‘70s and a spate of often schlocky but still unsettling films that married the two notions.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Public pressure mounts in Washington The spate of security breaches has only intensified pressure on Republicans in Washington who were already struggling to manage a wave of political backlash over data centers.
    — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of spate
Adjective
  • The woman understood from her hasty reading that perhaps all miracles could be attributed to saints and angels if they were experienced by a believer.
    — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Retail investors flooded into private credit in recent years only to stage a hasty retreat in early 2026.
    — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hasty
Noun
  • Google has also come armed with a raft of benchmarks to back up its claims.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The decision by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI follows a raft of reports in recent months about AI agents behaving in unexpected ways, evading human guardrails or otherwise going rogue.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of raft

Browse Nearby Words

rascals
rash
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Cite this Entry

“Rash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rash. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rash

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