rougher; roughest
1
a
: marked by inequalities, ridges, or projections on the surface : coarse
b
: covered with or made up of coarse and often shaggy hair
rough-coated collie
compare smooth, wirehaired
c(1)
: having a broken, uneven, or bumpy surface
rough terrain
(2)
: difficult to travel through or penetrate : wild
into the rough woods—
P. B. Shelley
P. B. Shelley2
a
: turbulent, tempestuous
rough seas
b(1)
: characterized by harshness, violence, or force
(2)
: presenting a challenge : difficult
rough to deal with—R. M. McAlmon
R. M. McAlmon3
: coarse or rugged in character or appearance: such as
a
: harsh to the ear
b
: crude in style or expression
c
d
: marked by a lack of refinement or grace : uncouth
4
a
: crude, unfinished
rough carpentry
b
: executed or ventured hastily, tentatively, or imperfectly
a rough draft
rough estimate
1
2
British
: without usual conveniences
especially
: without proper shelter
become homeless and have to sleep rough —London Times
London Times 1
: uneven ground covered with high grass, brush, and stones
specifically
: such ground bordering a golf fairway
2
: the rugged or disagreeable side or aspect
hiking-camping admirers of nature in the rough—Eleanor Stirling
Eleanor Stirling3
a
: something in a crude, unfinished, or preliminary state
b
: broad outline : general terms
the question … has been discussed in rough—Manchester Guardian Weekly
Manchester Guardian Weekly
c
: a hasty preliminary drawing or layout
4
: rowdy
roughed; roughing; roughs
1
: roughen
2
b
: to subject to unnecessary and intentional violence in a sport
a penalty for roughing the passer
c
: shell sense 3
—used with up
was roughed up for six runs
3
: to calk or otherwise roughen (a horse's shoes) to prevent slipping
4
a
: to shape, make, or dress in a rough or preliminary way
b
: to indicate the chief lines of
rough out the structure of a building
rougher
noun
Examples of rough in a Sentence
Adjective
He trimmed the rough edge of the paper.
We traveled over rough dirt roads.
They hiked through rough terrain.
We were a bit shaken from the plane's rough landing.
He went through a rough patch after his divorce.
They've hit a few rough spots in their marriage.
Despite a rough start, the team won more games this season than last.
Adverb
The engine is running a little rough.
Life has been treating her pretty rough.
He plays rough with the dog.
people living rough on the streets
Noun
He hit his drive into the rough.
He showed me a few roughs of the new building.
Verb
He was called for roughing the kicker.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Fred A. Bernstein, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2022
What is verifiably true is that, unlike the hulking, rough-faced cast iron we’re used to today, these elder vessels are almost unbearably wonderful, made from a thinner cast and consequently lighter weight, with surfaces that are satin smooth.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2021
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
The ball came to rest 57 yards from the hole, with Rose finding it in the middle of the thick rough.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
Eric Stephens, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Officials called the first penalty against the Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. for roughing the passer when Anderson’s helmet made contact with Mahomes in the first quarter.
—Jenna West, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel didn’t have a rough time getting to know the set of his new film Off the Grid because the actor lives off the grid in real-life.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Adverb
His own house in Fire Island Pines, built in 1961, was a single rectangle of about 600 square feet constructed from rough-cut cedar.
—Fred A. Bernstein, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2022
What is verifiably true is that, unlike the hulking, rough-faced cast iron we’re used to today, these elder vessels are almost unbearably wonderful, made from a thinner cast and consequently lighter weight, with surfaces that are satin smooth.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2021
Noun
The course features narrow fairways and primary rough that will range from 3.5 to 5 inches during the tournament.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
The ball came to rest 57 yards from the hole, with Rose finding it in the middle of the thick rough.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
Verb
Adam Henrique roughed him up, while Janmark and Podkolzin both dealt out slashes that were penalized.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Officials called the first penalty against the Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. for roughing the passer when Anderson’s helmet made contact with Mahomes in the first quarter.
—Jenna West, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rough
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: having an uneven surface : not smooth
b
: covered with or made up of coarse and often shaggy hair or bristles
a rough-coated terrier
2
a
: not calm
rough seas
b
: being harsh or violent
rough treatment
c
: difficult to take or deal with
we've had some rough times
3
a
: harsh to the ear
b
: coarse or rugged in nature or look
4
: not complete or exact
a rough draft
rough estimate
rough
2 of 4 noun1
: uneven ground covered with high grass, brush, and stones
2
: the rugged or unpleasant part of something
nature in the rough
3
: something in a crude or unfinished state
also
: such a state
a diamond in the rough
rough
3 of 4 adverb
: in a rough way : not smoothly
the engine idled rough, but ran smoothly at high speed
Medical Definition
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