rough-hewn

1 of 2

adjective

ˈrəf-ˈhyün 

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

rough-hewn

2 of 2

past participle of rough-hew

Synonyms of rough-hewn

Adjective

• clumsy
• rough
• crude
• rude
• rough-and-ready
• primitive
• flawed
• rough-and-tumble
• imperfect
• artless

Examples of rough-hewn in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Clearly influenced by Berger, Yoon develops the idea London introduced with only rough-hewn melodrama over a century before, that a precocious enough dog might offer a unique window onto human character. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

The rustic interior has plenty of simple, rough-hewn wooden furniture, which allows beautiful plates of pintxos and tapas to shine brightly. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026

As the title suggests, Music In Continuous Motion picks up right where its predecessor left off, with Orcutt assembling overdubbed guitar lines into brief, interlocking pieces that balance rough-hewn primitivism against painterly precision. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026

The refined contemporary interiors are punctuated throughout with terrazzo floors, warm wood paneling, and rough-hewn stone pillars. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rough-hewn

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

rough-hewn

adjective

ˈrəf-ˈhyün

1

: being rough or unfinished

rough-hewn beams

2

: lacking smooth manners or social grace