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.
Its rough-hewn stone walls and simply articulated windows and stringcourses were absolutely extraordinary in their ordinariness. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025 The city has tried to turn the page on George Floyd Square as a rough-hewn protest site by putting forward a plan to revamp the streets and sidewalks and setting aside the lot of a shuttered gas station to build a memorial or community center. Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 18 May 2025 Baldwin — who was cleared in July of an involuntary manslaughter charge brought by New Mexico prosecutors — plays a rough-hewn outlaw, Harland Rust. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 One recent exhibit displayed a series of rough-hewn public fountains that evoked post-apocalyptic decay. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 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 25 May. 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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