roughneck

1 of 2

noun

rough·​neck ˈrəf-ˌnek 

1

a

: a rough or uncouth person

b

: rowdy, tough

2

: a worker of an oil-well-drilling crew other than the driller

roughneck

2 of 2

adjective

: having the characteristics of or suitable for a roughneck

Synonyms

Noun

• thug
• gangster
• criminal
• villain
• bandit
• ruffian
• pirate
• tough
• assassin

Adjective

• vulgar
• crass
• rude
• crude
• coarse
• common
• rugged
• rough
• raffish

Examples of roughneck in a Sentence

Noun

a town overrun by roughnecks

a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people

Adjective

their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Local agency Legacy Casting is putting out a call for real-life oil and gas workers, or roughnecks, to appear in the show. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2025

The show seems organically suited for a more action comedy take, given Hooker’s old style and often roughneck crime fighting style, which seemed out of place in a more woke world. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025

Adjective

The show seems organically suited for a more action comedy take, given Hooker’s old style and often roughneck crime fighting style, which seemed out of place in a more woke world. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025

The term 'roughneck' conjures up images of rough-looking, greasy oilfield workers, sort of an iconic visual depiction, like those of cowboys of the old West. —Matt Randolph, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for roughneck

• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck
• redneck
• toltec
• beck
• breck

Kids Definition

roughneck

noun

rough·​neck

ˈrəf-ˌnek

1

: a rough person : rowdy

2

: a worker on a crew drilling oil wells