rough 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrəf How to pronounce rough (audio)
Definition of roughnext
1
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface a rough board can give you splinters

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2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity rough waters that made sailing our sloop a little risky

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3
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions at least wear a raincoat if you're going out into that rough weather

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4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments

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5
as in tough
difficult to endure I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job

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6
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance the rough faces of hardened criminals who had spent most of their lives behind bars

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7
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest

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8
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste he learned polite words to replace the rough language he had known growing up

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9
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard

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10
as in hairy
made of or resembling hair a rough-coated dog who was always shedding his fur

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11
as in bumpy
marked by a series of sharp quick motions a rough flight that left some passengers nauseated

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12
as in wild
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements after a rough week on the high seas, we were happy to sail through the gulf's more tranquil waters

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rough

2 of 3

noun

as in rowdy

Related Words

rough

3 of 3

verb

as in to chop

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rough are harsh, rugged, scabrous, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

In what contexts can harsh take the place of rough?

While in some cases nearly identical to rough, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When is rugged a more appropriate choice than rough?

In some situations, the words rugged and rough are roughly equivalent. However, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

Where would scabrous be a reasonable alternative to rough?

Although the words scabrous and rough have much in common, scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

When might uneven be a better fit than rough?

The meanings of uneven and rough largely overlap; however, uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rough
Adjective
However, the authors note, the dry samples were collected later in the season with a different method, so the comparison is rough. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026 The Cardinals are better than advertised against a rough schedule with a 3-2 ATS overall record and a 3-0 ATS road record. — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Noun
Site prep follows, then permits before any work begins, then electrical rough-in by a licensed electrician. — Allison Palmer updated June 25, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 Site prep comes next, then permits before any work begins, then electrical rough-in by a licensed electrician. — Allison Palmer updated June 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026
Verb
Her selection enraged Iran’s hard-line Shiite theocracy, which increased her prison time and later sent guards to rough her up along with other prisoners who were protesting inside Evin Prison. — ABC News, 1 May 2026 This gorgeous camp on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau brings you back to nomad-style basics, without roughing it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
  1. uneven
  2. violent
  3. turbulent
  4. difficult
  5. tough
  6. gruff
  7. clumsy
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • Researchers also trained its walking system on flat ground, so navigating stairs and uneven surfaces remains a challenge.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Uneven growth Yet, the allocation of venture funding remains hugely uneven within Asia.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • The teen also faces an allegation of having a prior conviction for a violent offense, which qualifies as a strike under California law.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Bass attempted to reverse her fortunes by touting her administration’s progress in reducing violent crime, fast-tracking affordable housing and bringing down unsheltered homelessness — the number of people living outside and in their cars — by 11%.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • That incident came just a day after a 5-year-old girl was pulled into the ocean and drowned in turbulent waters while walking on Treasure Island Beach in Orange County with her mother and brother.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Riner’s announcement comes at a particularly turbulent moment in France, just five months before a presidential election that has exposed deep divisions across the political spectrum.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • The pilot must compensate manually using the controller, which can be difficult if the aircraft is far away or difficult to see.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The chocolatey all-suede style was first released in October 2023 and has become increasingly difficult to track down over the years, with certain sizes commanding premium prices on the secondary market.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • The Heat now returns home, but the competition is about to get tougher.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Councilwoman Willis has been a tough negotiator, challenging us to work with the City of Dallas transportation department to identify and fund meaningful traffic enhancements.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The two-time Oscar winner wrote in his upcoming memoir, Look at Me, that Nichols was gruff in their interactions.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • But even those fans of her socially clumsy and feverishly party-planning mayor’s assistant Patricia on that series may not be prepared for her soulful, wrenching work in Mike Leigh’s latest film.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And given how clumsy its efforts have been, this is clearly the leadership of the Department of Justice acceding to the wishes of the president of the United States even when there is no sound legal basis to proceed.
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Please do not waste your sympathy on the misguided and vulgar notion that spending loads of money is a prerequisite for a lovely wedding or meaningful reception.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Taylor describes inappropriate physical touch, as well as the knight cornering her and saying vulgar things.
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgar

Phrases Containing rough

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rouges
rough
rough-and-ready
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Cite this Entry

“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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