Synonyms of rough
1
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
a rough board can give you splinters
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2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
rough waters that made sailing our sloop a little risky
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3
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
at least wear a raincoat if you're going out into that rough weather
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4
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments
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5
as in tough
difficult to endure
I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job
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6
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the rough faces of hardened criminals who had spent most of their lives behind bars
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7
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest
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8
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
he learned polite words to replace the rough language he had known growing up
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9
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard
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10
11
12
as in wild
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
after a rough week on the high seas, we were happy to sail through the gulf's more tranquil waters
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as in rowdy
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as in to chop
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1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
she was badly roughed up by her boxing partner
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2
as in to abuse
to abuse physically
the photographer claimed that he had been roughed up by the actor's bodyguards outside the club
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rough
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Eyelet, rough denim, buttery satin—all of these materials will lend your look some extra personality.
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Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
24 June 2026
ABC News,
11 May 2026
In the transfer portal and NIL era, many players who might’ve been diamonds in the smaller-school-rough have already been discovered.
—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Mara, though, has no trouble roughing it when the need arises, and she’s just finished shooting two much leaner productions.
—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough
Adjective
Recently, Deep Robotics unveiled new footage of its DR02 humanoid traversing rough terrain, climbing stairs, and carrying equipment, which is built for industrial and hazardous-environment operations.
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Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Eyelet, rough denim, buttery satin—all of these materials will lend your look some extra personality.
—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
24 June 2026
Noun
The first official day of practice for the PGA Championship brought a reminder that accuracy this week is more about shots into the green than avoiding bunkers or the healthy rough.
—
ABC News,
11 May 2026
In the transfer portal and NIL era, many players who might’ve been diamonds in the smaller-school-rough have already been discovered.
—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
But unlike at some jungle retreats, which demand a certain ability to rough it, even the most spider-averse will feel at home here—kids in particular.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Mara, though, has no trouble roughing it when the need arises, and she’s just finished shooting two much leaner productions.
—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
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If visible pores or uneven texture is a concern for you at all, this primer is the ultimate solution.
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As with that earlier boom-and-bust cycle, the AI landscape is likely to yield uneven outcomes, according to Qian Wang, global head of capital market research at Vanguard, and senior global economist Kevin Khang.
Adjective
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The march stems from the violent 1969 police raid of the Stonewall Inn that catalyzed the gay rights movement at a time when many people who were LGBTQIA+ hid their identity.
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Over the years, Hall has responded to emergencies ranging from domestic violence calls to serious violent crimes.
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Directed by Guadagnino from a screenplay by Saturday Night Live alum Simon Rich, Artificial explores Sam Altman’s OpenAI and the company’s turbulent period in 2023 when he was fired and rehired in a matter of days.
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The trauma of a turbulent household had aged her beyond her years.
Adjective
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Aviation experts said those conditions would have been difficult to navigate that evening when the helicopter, a Robinson R66, crashed in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.
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But traffic on the waterway remains a fraction of pre-war levels with different authorities vying to organize the transit of vessels, leaving operators with a difficult choice over which path to take.
Adjective
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Summer 2026 is having a tough time deciding on this season’s dominating nail trend.
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These are typically low-wage jobs that the healthcare industry writ large has had a tough time recruiting for since the pandemic.
Adjective
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Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
Adjective
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This has, in many cases, led to some clumsy looking solutions at venues across North America.
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An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks.
Adjective
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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.
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In recent years, Trae Young has repeatedly tormented the Knicks at the famed Madison Square Garden, turning clutch shots and postgame showmanship into vulgar chants from New York fans.
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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