uneven

adjective

un·even | \ ˌən-ˈē-vən

Definition of uneven

1a archaic : unequal sense 1a

b : odd sense 3a

2a : not even : not level or smooth : rugged, ragged large uneven teeth uneven handwriting

b : varying from the straight or parallel

c : not uniform : irregular uneven combustion

d : varying in quality an uneven performance

3 : unequal sense 3a an uneven confrontation

Other Words from uneven Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about uneven

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Choose the Right Synonym for uneven

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 uneven in a Sentence

His breathing was shallow and uneven. You should check your car's tires often for signs of uneven wear. an uneven distribution of wealth We have an uneven number of players, so we'll have to rotate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Where consumers spent their money was uneven, Friday’s report showed. — Sarah Chaney, WSJ, "Holiday Season Retail Sales Heat Up," 14 Dec. 2018 Rainfall is uneven throughout the state, with regions like the Seward Peninsula and the Great Kubuk Sand Dunes functioning like deserts. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Melting Permafrost Poses a Huge Danger to Artic Infrastructure," 11 Dec. 2018 There is confusion about jobs that were supposed to be created, and communication with the developer has been uneven. — Joe Guillen, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit's showcase neighborhood project falls a year behind schedule," 3 July 2018 There is a bellicosity of rhetoric related to the fact that the trading system has been uneven for seven years. — Fox News, "Trump and media clash over border," 25 June 2018 That effort got mixed reviews for its uneven performance and rapidly rotating personnel in West Africa, but perhaps the UN could take another run at creating such a response unit. — Ron Klain, Vox, "A pandemic killing tens of millions of people is a real possibility — and we are not prepared for it," 15 Oct. 2018 These external factors inhibit collagen production, resulting in more fine lines and wrinkles, and give rise to the appearance of sun spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone and texture, explains Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip. — Jenn Sinrich, SELF, "4 Skin-Care Ingredients That Simultaneously Treat Acne and Signs of Aging," 31 Oct. 2018 Murdock wasn’t the only one who needed to do some soul-searching after Daredevil’s uneven second season and The Defenders not quite living up to its hype. — Samantha Nelson, The Verge, "Most Read," 12 Oct. 2018 Their place in the standings ahead of Seattle has been earned, not bequeathed because of the Mariners’ uneven play. — Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times, "Mariners rally late, but A’s had already built too big of a lead to win 7-6," 13 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'uneven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.