rough-hewn

adjective

ˈrəf-ˈhyün How to pronounce rough-hewn (audio)
Definition of rough-hewnnext
1
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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-hewn In Maine, Graham Platner, a rough-hewn populist who had to cover up a Nazi tattoo, looks set to handily beat Janet Mills, the polished seventy-eight-year-old incumbent governor. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026 The couple created Boni’s as a slightly more rough-hewn and masculine version of their bespoke sister restaurant. — Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026 Limón, 46, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, has a much calmer personality than many of her rough-hewn male predecessors. — George Skelton, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026 Limón, 46, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, has a much calmer personality than many of her rough-hewn male predecessors. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-hewn
  1. clumsy
  2. crass
  3. uncomfortable
  4. rough
  5. vulgar
  6. uneasy
  7. rude
  8. coarse
Adjective
  • But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Like a more crass, animated Seinfeld, Rocko deals with the mundanities and absurdities of daily life.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
  • With the games having kicked off, the sport has shown its ineffable power to supplant crass and capitalistic overreach.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of crass
Adjective
  • No one really wants to keep wearing their stiff, uncomfortable boots after arriving back at camp following a long, challenging day on the trail.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
  • There are staffers uncomfortable with the politics of the deal, worried that political interference could alter CNN’s coverage in a meaningful way.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • The Rangers had a rough stretch during the seventh when Eovaldi got pulled after allowing one run.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • His process remained rough around the edges, but Thursday was a great step in the right direction.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
  • Sean Goode, a former Canton police sergeant who was working the night of John O'Keefe's death and testified during the first Karen Read trial, allegedly sent dozens of vulgar text messages, according to an independent investigation.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Definition of vulgar
Adjective
  • Now Gauff and her next opponent, Karolina Muchova, face off Thursday for a chance to transform their mutually uneasy relationships with the green blades beneath their feet into the biggest grass-court breakthrough of their careers.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The result is a tension stretched nearly to the snapping point, then resolved in an uneasy detente.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Only one guy, Timothy Piatkowski, a researcher involved with the Games, suggested that my question might be a little rude.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • It’s considered rude to answer one’s phone on public transport or in a restaurant, for example.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • Stick the cuttings so the ends are about 3 inches deep in containers of potting soil or coarse vermiculite.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
  • Homemade brownies are topped with a rich, smooth cheesecake layer and baked with coarse crumbles of Oreo cookies.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 10 July 2026
Definition of coarse

Browse Nearby Words

roughens
rough-hewn
roughhouse
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Cite this Entry

“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-hewn. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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