rugged

adjective

rug·​ged ˈrə-gəd 

1

: having a rough uneven surface : jagged

rugged mountains

2

a

: seamed with wrinkles and furrows : weathered

—used of a human face

b

: showing facial signs of strength

rugged good looks

3

a

: presenting a severe test of ability, stamina, or resolution

b

: strongly built or constituted : robust

those that survive are stalwart, rugged men

—L. D. Stamp

4

a

: rough and strong in character

b

: coarse, rude

c

: austere, stern

5

: turbulent, stormy

rugged weather

6

obsolete : shaggy, hairy

ruggedly adverb

ruggedness noun

Synonyms

• cast-iron
• hard
• hard-bitten
• hardened
• hardy
• inured
• stout
• strong
• sturdy
• tough
• toughened
• vigorous

Choose the Right Synonym for rugged

rough, harsh, uneven, rugged, scabrous mean not smooth or even.

rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

Examples of rugged in a Sentence

the rugged surface of the moon

She did a painting of the region's rugged coastline.

People are attracted to his rugged good looks.

I admire her rugged individualism.

Recent Examples on the Web

People from nearby cities, like Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago and the Twin Cities, venture to the rugged area to see the dark night sky, hear the sounds of the forest, and take in the vastness of Lake Superior. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

Artemis’s operations will be focused on the moon’s south pole, a region known for its rugged terrain, extreme temperatures and potential for frozen water. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024

This rugged existence became so ingrained, Koudelka went on, that when the great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson invited him to be his guest in Paris, Koudelka worried what a bed would do to him. —Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

The massive piece of real estate east of the Cota Vera development is now vacant, rugged and in need of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of roads, sewers and power lines. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024

This rugged folio case also offers a bevy of kid-proof features. —Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024

In the waning moments, UConn had doubled up the normally rugged Aztecs on the boards, 50-25. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024

The rugged terrain made everything more complicated, from hauling in equipment to transporting ore. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle English *rug

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Kids Definition

rugged

adjective

rug·​ged ˈrəg-əd 

1

: having a rough uneven surface

hiking on rugged trails

the rugged surface of the moon

2

: having wrinkles or uneven features

their rugged faces

rugged good looks

3

: having a rough but strong or sturdy character

rugged pioneers

4

: involving hardship : presenting a severe test of physical, mental, or moral strength

a rugged winter

rugged training

the rugged life of a sailor

5

: being strong and tough

rugged enough to stand hard use

ruggedly adverb

ruggedness noun