1
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Adjective
-
Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
-
The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
Adjective
-
Like a more crass, animated Seinfeld, Rocko deals with the mundanities and absurdities of daily life.
-
With the games having kicked off, the sport has shown its ineffable power to supplant crass and capitalistic overreach.
Adjective
-
Runcie is sharply attuned to the vast uncomfortable grey areas of gender and power relations, navigating them with wry, revelatory observations that are devastatingly acute.
-
That observation carries an uncomfortable implication for executives.
Adjective
-
Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
-
Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
Adjective
-
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.
-
Others were removed early on for vulgar or inappropriate comments, according to a PGA Tour source with knowledge of the events, with five spectators in total ejected from the tournament with six holes to go.
Adjective
-
The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
-
But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
Adjective
-
Due Amici brings Brooklyn roots and authenticity, right down to the counter service that’s not rude but not exactly warm.
-
It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
Adjective
-
To create your own mix, use a combination of two parts potting soil and one part perlite or coarse sand to grow your spider plant in.
-
The varying sizes of these tools suggest threads of different thicknesses, and that indicates both finer and coarser textiles, and likely the use of a range of raw materials.
Cite this Entry
“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-hewn. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
