uneven

adjective

un·​even ˌən-ˈē-vən 

1

a

archaic : unequal sense 1a

b

: odd sense 4a

an uneven number of players

2

a

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

large uneven teeth

uneven handwriting

b

: varying from the straight or parallel

uneven edges

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 of uneven

• jagged
• rough
• rugged
• broken
• irregular

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

This uneven composition created an internal energy barrier within the solar cell, hindering the flow of the electrical charge generated by sunlight. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026

While earlier efforts often struggled with limited adoption and unclear rules, the current environment reflects more experimentation across jurisdictions and asset classes, albeit with uneven progress. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026

The Chiefs offense had uneven success through the first 14 games, then looked abysmal when Mahomes was lost for the season because of a knee injury. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026

Renewable technologies are now cheaper, faster to deploy, more resilient, and more accessible than fossil fuel alternatives across most regions of the world, though access and deployment remain uneven. —Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Time, 20 Jan. 2026

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