rough

adjective

ˈrəf 

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 …

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

2

a

: turbulent, tempestuous

rough seas

b(1)

: characterized by harshness, violence, or force

rough treatment

rough sports

grew up in a rough area

These dishes can't withstand rough handling.

Don't be so rough on them for the mistake. [=don't criticize or punish them so harshly]

(2)

: presenting a challenge : difficult

… rough to deal with …

—Robert McAlmon

Our ancestors had it rough [=had a difficult existence] compared to us.

He's going through a rough time. [=his life has been difficult lately]

3

: coarse or rugged in character or appearance: such as

a

: harsh to the ear

a rough voice

b

: crude in style or expression

c

: indelicate

d

: marked by a lack of refinement or grace : uncouth

a rough character

4

a

: crude, unfinished

rough carpentry

b

: executed or ventured hastily, tentatively, or imperfectly

a rough draft

rough estimate

also : approximate

a rough idea

The plan has some rough edges. [=has some aspects that need to be changed or finished]

The design is still a bit rough around the edges. [=the design needs refinement]

roughish

ˈrə-fish 

adjective

roughness

ˈrəf-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of rough

• uneven
• jagged
• rugged
• broken

Choose the Right Synonym for rough

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

synonyms see in addition rude

Examples of rough in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her voice startled me, both rough and smooth—like a bottle of whiskey set in front of a princess. —Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

The latest came Thursday, when the New York Times reported that three ex-girlfriends of Platner’s had described his behavior as volatile and, by one account, physically rough. —Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Scammers may find relatives’ names, rough ages, your city, your property address and other public record details. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

Erin Napier's introduction to her 40s was a bit rough. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English rūh; akin to Old High German rūh rough, Lithuanian raukas wrinkle

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing rough

• be rough on (someone)
• cut up rough
• diamond in the rough
• go through a rough time
• have a rough time (of it)
• have it rough
• in rough
• in the rough
• rough-and-ready
• rough-and-tumble
• rough bluegrass
• rough breathing
• rough cut
• rough diamond
• rough draft
• rough-dry
• rough-edged
• rough endoplasmic reticulum
• rough fish
• rough going
• rough-hew
• rough-hewn
• rough in
• rough it
• rough-legged buzzard
• rough-legged hawk
• rough lemon
• rough out
• rough paper
• rough parity
• rough stuff
• rough/tough going
• rough trade
• rough up
• take the rough with the smooth
• the rough

Rhymes for rough

• buff
• cuff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• ruff
• scruff

Kids Definition

rough

1 of 4 adjective

ˈrəf 

1

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

also : approximate entry 1

this will give you a rough idea of the house

roughish

ˈrəf-ish 

adjective

roughly adverb

roughness noun

rough

2 of 4 noun

1

: 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

rough

4 of 4 verb

1

: roughen

2

: to handle roughly : beat

roughed up by hoodlums

3

: to shape or make in a rough way

rough out a plan

Medical Definition

rough

adjective

ˈrəf 

: having a broken, uneven, or bumpy surface

specifically : forming or being rough colonies usually made up of organisms that form chains or filaments and tend to marked decrease in capsule formation and virulence

—used of dissociated strains of bacteria compare smooth