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

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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
Despite the presence of stars like N'Golo Kanté, Romelu Lukaku, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nathan Aké, Nélson Semedo, and Mason Greenwood, Fenerbahçe have had a rough start to their season, losing two of their first four league games. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 The role comes amid a particularly rough year for Abrams characters who get trapped inside biohazards. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
Kim hit her second shot into the left rough on the par-14 13th, and wound up sliding a 10-foot putt to the right for bogey. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026 Cole getting a huge break after his ball somehow bounced through the left rough before settling on the edge of the short grass. — CBS News, 31 May 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
  • Heat and uneven rainfall have stressed forests in some areas, while timely moisture has kept others lush.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Waterproof formula—but doesn’t feel like a typical waterproof foundation, which can feel heavy and settle into uneven texture.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Despite the increasingly violent grand guignol on show, there’s actually a lot of nuance here, in its discussion not just of loneliness but the transactional nature of modern relationships.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • His more than 32-year law enforcement career has included leadership assignments in violent crimes, patrol and special investigations, and homicide and robbery investigations.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • His re-election came on the back of a turbulent few years, ones where Barca’s finances were as much a story as their football.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The new play follows the fortunes of a wealthy but troubled clan through a turbulent period in Nigeria’s recent history.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Being undefeated after a trio of difficult opening matches can only be seen as a positive, even if Newcastle’s obvious shortcomings require addressing if that run is to be prolonged.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Engineers need flight data on propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal management, guidance and other subsystems under conditions that are difficult to reproduce on the ground.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Competing in a Grand Tour is one of sport’s toughest endurance tests.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Trump used several minutes of his speech to praise Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is in a tough Senate race in America's largest red state.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • His only hope to get home turns out to be Nick (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent who loves American pop culture and is really good in a fight.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Known for his gruff vocals, LaMontagne first came to the scene in the early aughts as a timid troubadour.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • Such attempts to touch on the highly personal connections people have to Oasis’s music feel clumsy and forced, especially when juxtaposed with the brothers’ rather anonymous comments.
    — Elena Lazic, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • After meeting at a society reception, Henry sets out to marry Henrietta, an endearingly clumsy, overly apologetic botanist with ambitions of discovering a new species of fern.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Decide for yourself whether that’s a bold indicator of English football’s superiority over the rest of the world, or a revolting symbol of the bloated and vulgar behemoth that the game has become.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2026.

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