rough-hewn
adjective
1
: being in a rough, unsmoothed, or unfinished state : crudely formed
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking refinement
… charming in a rough-hewn kind of way.—
Timothy Ferris
Timothy FerrisExamples of rough-hewn in a Sentence
a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness
a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company
rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
Recent Examples on the Web
Dishes are simple but visually striking, served on rough-hewn wooden tables by servers in linen aprons and fashionable sneakers.
—Lindsey Tramuta, Saveur, 19 Nov. 2025
His grandiose designs, with characteristic rough-hewn stones, stalwart towers and arched windows, reintroduced Romanesque features in America and were so often imitated that the style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque.
—Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Nov. 2025
The split-personality rig is a rough-hewn, hard-nosed adventure support vehicle outside and an exceptionally comfortable and livable home-on-a-hitch inside.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Old-Looking Surfaces The house features rough plaster walls and chunky, rough-hewn timber ceiling beams.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
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Lindsey Tramuta, Saveur, 19 Nov. 2025
His grandiose designs, with characteristic rough-hewn stones, stalwart towers and arched windows, reintroduced Romanesque features in America and were so often imitated that the style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque.
—Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Nov. 2025
The split-personality rig is a rough-hewn, hard-nosed adventure support vehicle outside and an exceptionally comfortable and livable home-on-a-hitch inside.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Old-Looking Surfaces The house features rough plaster walls and chunky, rough-hewn timber ceiling beams.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn
Cite this Entry
“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hewn. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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