1
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
a rough board can give you splinters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
rough waters that made sailing our sloop a little risky
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
at least wear a raincoat if you're going out into that rough weather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in harsh
difficult to endure
I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the rough faces of hardened criminals who had spent most of their lives behind bars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
he learned polite words to replace the rough language he had known growing up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
11
12
as in wild
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
after a rough week on the high seas, we were happy to sail through the gulf's more tranquil waters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in tough
Related Words
as in to chop
Related Words
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 rough
Troy Finnegan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
They’re cut to fit from a single rough, one at a time.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
And spotting that big beautiful town limits sign after days of roughing it in the wilderness can hit like a clarion call from Bacchus himself.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside Online, 31 May 2025
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Why Do Towels Get Stiff? Stiff towels aren’t just rough on the skin, but also will see reduced absorbency.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Adjective
Players were struggling to chip the ball to the green from the greenside rough all afternoon.
—Troy Finnegan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
They’re cut to fit from a single rough, one at a time.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
Lundell was in the box for roughing after a scrum at the end of the first period, and Corey Perry — who scored the game-tying goal late in Game 2 — scored from point-blank range to cut Edmonton’s deficit to one early in the period.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
And spotting that big beautiful town limits sign after days of roughing it in the wilderness can hit like a clarion call from Bacchus himself.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside Online, 31 May 2025
Verb
The track chair expands accessibility by giving people who have issues with mobility the option to enjoy nature no matter how rough the terrain is, officials said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
Why Do Towels Get Stiff? Stiff towels aren’t just rough on the skin, but also will see reduced absorbency.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
-
The pandemic may have accelerated long-standing public health challenges, and the recovery, the study makes clear, has been uneven and incomplete.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Whether dealing with slick grass, gravel paths, or uneven surfaces, the Sunseeker Elite X7 maintains control and performance with minimal slippage.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
As droves of tourists continue to flock to Spain for European summer vacations, the nation’s emergency responders are dealing with the aftermath of a violent wave of flash flooding in nearly half of the country’s 50 provinces.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
-
The two got married, had a baby, and started a quiet life together far away from his violent past.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
At the tight end position, a turbulent year around him in 2024 didn’t allow for any consistency for Jake Ferguson, especially when factoring in his injuries.—
Nick Harris
July 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 July 2025
-
Chapek’s short and turbulent reign ended in 2022 when Iger returned as CEO.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Our models and expertise can sniff out the broad parameters, but the precise location and timing of moisture plumes, training (quasi-stationary rain cells), and forcing mechanism can be difficult.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
But after rookie third baseman Ronny Mauricio made an exceptionally tough double play to end a two-on, one-out threat in the bottom of the eighth, there was no way the Mets were losing.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
-
With one out, however, Ohtani was thrown at the plate trying to score from third on Pages’ chopper up the line — making an aggressive, but proper, read in a game in which the Dodgers had long before conceded that runs would be tough to come by.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
With a deep, gruff voice and animus toward humanity, McCarthy was an unusual dance-music star when Nitzer Ebb started notching chart hits.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2025
-
Two months ago, the world lost a gruff and burly guitar player named Al Barile.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
At times, Alcaraz was almost as clumsy as Federer in his last hurrah here against Hubert Hurkacz in 2021.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
The comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share