1
: being in a rough, unsmoothed, or unfinished state : crudely formed
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking refinement
he was rather attractive, in a rough-hewn kind of wayJan Speas

Examples 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
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.
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025 Live-wire, frantic, and gruffly realistic, Dog Day Afternoon is one of the great crime films of all time and a quintessentially ’70s one, with its rough-hewn everyday characters and sweaty, imperfect flailing of a bank robbery. Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Like the industrial-chic public spaces, guest rooms also have exposed brick, rough-hewn wood, and steel surfaces. Heather Greenwood Davis, AFAR Media, 16 July 2025 The guest house provides an additional three extra bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the nearby log cabin is perfectly integrated with the wild Montana terrain, its vaulted ceilings and rough-hewn log walls echoing the untamed spirit of the landscape. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-hewn was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hewn. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rough-hewn

adjective
ˈrəf-ˈhyün
1
: being rough or unfinished
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking smooth manners or social grace
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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