uneven

adjective

un·​even ˌən-ˈē-vən 

1

a

archaic : unequal sense 1a

b

: odd sense 4a

2

a

: 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

unevenly adverb

unevenness

ˌən-ˈē-və(n)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• broken
• bumpy
• coarse
• irregular
• jagged
• lumpy
• pebbly
• ragged
• rough
• roughened
• rugged
• scraggy

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

John’s piano and vocals, thankfully, were front and center, and did not suffer from uneven mixing. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025

For instance, the automaker heard customers say the cup holders were hard to use because the front console was uneven and the cup holders weren’t flexible enough to hold different sizes and types of vessels. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

Plus, uneven subsidence across a city can destabilize buildings and infrastructure. —Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 8 May 2025

This can be seen when the gap between the doors is too small, too large, or uneven. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing uneven

• uneven bars
• uneven parallel bars

Rhymes for uneven

• breakeven
• genevan
• even
• steven

Kids Definition

uneven

adjective

un·​even ˌən-ˈē-vən 

ˈən-

1

: not even : not level or smooth : rugged, ragged

large uneven teeth

uneven handwriting

2

: varying from the straight or parallel

3

: not constant : irregular

uneven earnings

4

: varying in quality

an uneven performance

unevenly adverb

unevenness noun