rough 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrəf How to pronounce rough (audio)
Definition of roughnext
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 tough
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
as in hairy
made of or resembling hair a rough-coated dog who was always shedding his fur

Synonyms & Similar Words
11
as in bumpy
marked by a series of sharp quick motions a rough flight that left some passengers nauseated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

rough

2 of 3

noun

as in rowdy

Related Words

rough

3 of 3

verb

as in to chop

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rough are harsh, rugged, scabrous, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

In what contexts can harsh take the place of rough?

While in some cases nearly identical to rough, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When is rugged a more appropriate choice than rough?

In some situations, the words rugged and rough are roughly equivalent. However, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

Where would scabrous be a reasonable alternative to rough?

Although the words scabrous and rough have much in common, scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

When might uneven be a better fit than rough?

The meanings of uneven and rough largely overlap; however, uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

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
Adjective
Perhaps that ties back to the untamed landscape of volcanoes and rough seas that piqued his curiosity in the first place. — Caitlin Babcock, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026 But his morning walk with his dog Aspen, a three-year-old Goldendoodle, was rough. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
Site prep follows, then permits before any work begins, then electrical rough-in by a licensed electrician. — Allison Palmer updated June 25, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 Site prep comes next, then permits before any work begins, then electrical rough-in by a licensed electrician. — Allison Palmer updated June 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026
Verb
Her selection enraged Iran’s hard-line Shiite theocracy, which increased her prison time and later sent guards to rough her up along with other prisoners who were protesting inside Evin Prison. — ABC News, 1 May 2026 This gorgeous camp on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau brings you back to nomad-style basics, without roughing it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
  1. uneven
  2. violent
  3. turbulent
  4. difficult
  5. tough
  6. gruff
  7. clumsy
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • The brand's signature technology combines a retinoid with lactic acid to smooth fine lines, uneven tone, and rough texture, and its AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads take things a step further.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • These accounts often waive monthly fees without a minimum balance and offer larger transaction or cash deposit allowances, since nonprofits may see uneven cash flow tied to grant cycles and fundraising.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • The protests quickly turned violent as demonstrators lobbed Molotov cocktails at the Education Ministry and clashed with police.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Lilliputians are as small-minded as their size and conduct querulous, violent debates about which end of an egg to crack (so obviously similar to the theological complexities of Swift’s own day).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • Kansas has emerged as an unlikely battleground in a turbulent midterm election year for Republicans, who are striving to hold onto slim majorities in both chambers of Congress.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The production decision also follows a turbulent development history.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Jarman, who came in as the defending champion on the event, put together a more difficult routine but was nicked by judges for his execution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • This is the last remaining game on the schedule that should be very difficult.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Winning means making much tougher decisions about what to put on the floor.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Flournoy made some tough grabs downfield, and Lamb punctuated the night with two touchdown grabs.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Defying the old-school stereotype of the hard-nosed, gruff newspaper boss, Vaughn often mentored young reporters in a serious but friendly and encouraging manner.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • Here, his clumsy, winky, affected, and self-undercutting direction can’t even work the charming Jenna Ortega to a great performance, as her Klara is flattened into a bundle of manic pixie mannerisms both physical and verbal.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Some Latinas are nerds, and some Latinas are quirky, and some of them are goofy and some of them are clumsy.
    — Johanna Ferreira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Taylor describes inappropriate physical touch, as well as the knight cornering her and saying vulgar things.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In her smartly vulgar The Seasons (1957), which extends nearly 17 feet, Krasner returns to the subject of rebirth one year after Pollock’s death, depicting abundant forms resembling genitalia.
    — John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgar

Phrases Containing rough

Browse Nearby Words

rouges
rough
rough-and-ready
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wraith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All