roll·er-coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər 
ˈrō-lə-ˌkō-
: marked by numerous ups and downs
an entertainer's roller-coaster career
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
1
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) constructed with sharp curves and steep inclines on which cars roll
2
: something resembling a roller coaster
especially
: behavior, events, or experiences characterized by sudden and extreme changes
an emotional roller coaster
Examples of roller-coaster in a Sentence
Noun
We went for a ride on the roller coaster.
The divorce was an emotional roller coaster for both of them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
While some of these new releases promise theatrical roller-coaster rides, others are best kept for a night on the couch or even a cross-country flight.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
There will also be a large lake, with multiple roller coasters and what looks like an amphitheater for shows.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roller-coaster
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Adjective
As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
While some of these new releases promise theatrical roller-coaster rides, others are best kept for a night on the couch or even a cross-country flight.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
By pushing the deportation debate, Trump is keeping the focus away from the negative economic news that has dented his approval rating thanks to the shaky rollout of his tariff plans and the ensuing roller coaster results in the stock markets.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
There will also be a large lake, with multiple roller coasters and what looks like an amphitheater for shows.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roller-coaster
Cite this Entry
“Roller-coaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roller-coaster. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roller coaster
noun
roll·er coast·er
ˈrō-lər-ˌkō-stər
ˈrō-lē-ˌkō-
: an elevated railway (as in an amusement park) with sharp curves and steep slopes on which cars roll
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