ROUGHEN Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

roughen

verb

Definition of roughen

as in to coarsen

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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 roughen Gascón lost his December reelection campaign, ushering in a new district attorney, Nathan Hochman, whose deep skepticism of the brothers roughened the road ahead. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025 New York doubled down on minimalism but roughened the edges, proving restraint works best when paired with volume, texture and easiness. — Alejandro Badia, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025 According to Meriem, friction from certain hijab fabrics can roughen the hair shaft, while heat-trapping materials cause buildup, inflammation, and even ingrown hairs—all of which silently impact overall hair health. — Eman Bare, Vogue, 19 May 2025 The lengths in particular, which are already dry and sensitive, are only roughened even more by regular shampooing. — Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for roughen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughen

coarsen

Verb

At a time of coarsening of public discourse, Oz worked across sectors to show that courage does not require cruelty.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2023
To his detractors, Roy was — more than any other single figure — responsible for coarsening the political discourse in the United States, eroding public trust in journalism and providing a platform for xenophobia, misogyny and climate denialism.

— Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2023

Definition of coarsen

Browse Nearby Words

roughed (up)

roughen

roughened

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“Roughen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughen. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of roughen

verb

Example Sentences

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