1
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough-hewn
The city has tried to turn the page on George Floyd Square as a rough-hewn protest site by putting forward a plan to revamp the streets and sidewalks and setting aside the lot of a shuttered gas station to build a memorial or community center.
—
Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Baldwin — who was cleared in July of an involuntary manslaughter charge brought by New Mexico prosecutors — plays a rough-hewn outlaw, Harland Rust.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
One recent exhibit displayed a series of rough-hewn public fountains that evoked post-apocalyptic decay.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Moroney has built her profile as a prolific songwriter with a rough-hewn voice reminiscent of early Miley Cyrus.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn
Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Baldwin — who was cleared in July of an involuntary manslaughter charge brought by New Mexico prosecutors — plays a rough-hewn outlaw, Harland Rust.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
One recent exhibit displayed a series of rough-hewn public fountains that evoked post-apocalyptic decay.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Moroney has built her profile as a prolific songwriter with a rough-hewn voice reminiscent of early Miley Cyrus.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-hewn
Adjective
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Herbert includes a range of moments, from earnest attempts to talk about the enslaved people that maintained all these palatial homes to clumsier ones in which they are referred to as workers, insinuating that their labor was paid for instead of forced.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
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The aftermath of Virginia’s clumsy tumble into a rose bed where her exposed cleavage is profusely pricked by thorns lasts for all of one scene.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Most Popular Most Popular Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen’s crisis Asking Eric: The parents refuse to cut their trip short despite their teen's crisis Dear Abby: Is there a way to tell the crass shirttail relations that they’re not invited?—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
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But beyond the crass remarks about Read, experts say less explosive messages about Proctor's early opinions of the investigation could be damning.—
Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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And also burst into laughter – uncomfortable laughter.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
29 June 2025
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There was one uncomfortable moment when the Bruins’ brass on Causeway Street, trying to interface with Hagens at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles via Zoom, could not hear the player and the broadcast had to move on.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
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Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel didn’t have a rough time getting to know the set of his new film Off the Grid because the actor lives off the grid in real-life.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Using vulgar, profane or indecent language in a loud or boisterous manner in the presence of children.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
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Between 12% and 13.3% of Americans, around 10% of Brits, and 9.4% of Australians used at least one vulgar word in their data.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy band Mirror will also make his Korean drama debut in the new season, joining the cast in a role that pairs him in an uneasy alliance with Kim Do-gi.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
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Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil lost 15 cents to $65.37 per barrel.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
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About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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And even if that feels rude by the standards of today, people were forced to answer her questions and answer to the things that the public wanted to know.—
Alex Jhamb Burns,
Vogue,
23 June 2025
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There are so many things that can be off or what if just the woman walks in and just is not attracted to the guy or the man is rude to the waiter.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-hewn. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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