as in unpolished
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Recent Examples of rough-edged
Andor is charming and rough-edged, a solo space cowboy accustomed to hustling his own way.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
Here we are faced with an aesthetic that is indeed poetic, but also austere; contemplative, yet analytical, critical—at times even rough-edged.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 14 May 2025
One of the things Sean Baker does exceptionally well is draw us into a vivid and highly specific milieu, nurturing our affections for characters who are rough-edged, to put it mildly, and then whip up a vortex of steadily escalating chaos.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
Foster’s version of Sarah was more defiant and rough-edged than the producers and the director, Jonathan Kaplan, wanted.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
Here we are faced with an aesthetic that is indeed poetic, but also austere; contemplative, yet analytical, critical—at times even rough-edged.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 14 May 2025
One of the things Sean Baker does exceptionally well is draw us into a vivid and highly specific milieu, nurturing our affections for characters who are rough-edged, to put it mildly, and then whip up a vortex of steadily escalating chaos.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
Foster’s version of Sarah was more defiant and rough-edged than the producers and the director, Jonathan Kaplan, wanted.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-edged
Adjective
-
The album was controversial, as Springsteen insisted on releasing no singles, not doing any press or a tour and retaining the songs’ unpolished sound, much to the initial chagrin of Columbia Records.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Where oversized, chunky, rounded silhouettes read as frumpy and unpolished, this does the exact opposite.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The series offers Whitford his latest opportunity to express general bemusement with the American political process, this time sporting a bushy white beard, and Whigham his latest opportunity to be an uncouth bull in an otherwise genteel china shop.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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Every unflattering photo and uncouth inside joke will come to light.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Muscovado sugar is imported, unrefined, light brown cane sugar, available under the Billington label and sold at Balducci's in New York City (212/673-2600).—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
23 Nov. 2025
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Choose unrefined or virgin coconut oil over refined options, and perform a patch test to help avoid irritation or allergic reactions.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Just the opposite: The slipup shows how culture pervades even my uncultured moments.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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In certain circles, identifying with the city is shorthand for being uncultured and self-obsessed, even soulless.—
Ella Berman
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And through it all, Butler’s rough-hewn charm remains intact.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
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What is certain is that, with a lyrical albeit rough-hewn alt-rock act as its headliner, this will be a different sort of Blizzard B-Day.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The continent is home to 60% of the planet’s uncultivated arable land that is capable of sequestering immense amounts of carbon—yet only 16% of the global carbon credits market.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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After bushwhacking through uncultivated wilderness, the ground team found the woman, the Coast Guard said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Although the Ripken card launched many conspiracy theories as to whether the inclusion of its vulgar phrase was truly a mistake or a Fleer marketing ploy, there is a long history of errors making it through quality control in sports card production.—
Tyler Holzhammer,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The joke swap during last year's Christmas episode went to some particularly jaw-dropping places after Che made Jost read a vulgar joke about Johansson.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Grumbly action dramas seem to play well on streaming services this time of year, when awards season is dying down and viewers turn to something a little trashier.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
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The results don’t feel like beats from a trashy TV show but instead like microcosms of the culture wars, raising uncomfortable questions about what the unscripted space is willing to normalize and gamify in 2026.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rough-edged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-edged. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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