Synonyms of roughneck

roughneck 1 of 2

adjective

as in vulgar

lacking in refinement or good taste

their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vulgar
• crass
• rude
• crude
• coarse
• common
• rugged
• rough
• raffish
• uncultured
• gross
• rough-hewn
• uncouth
• lowbrow
• clumsy
• unrefined
• low
• unpolished
• uncultivated
• tasteless
• ill-bred
• loutish
• insensible
• boorish
• illiberal
• lowbred
• cloddish
• rustic
• incult
• lubberly
• ungentlemanly
• oafish
• clownish
• lumpish
• churlish
• unsophisticated
• countrified
• provincial
• thoughtless
• indelicate
• insensitive
• inconsiderate
• uncivilized
• barbarous
• barbaric
• inelegant
• graceless
• unmannered
• tacky
• unmannerly
• mannerless
• animallike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smooth
• civilized
• cultured
• polished
• genteel
• refined
• aristocratic
• cultivated
• tasteful
• patrician
• courtly
• well-bred
• sensitive
• elegant
• graceful
• restrained
• thoughtful
• ultrarefined
• sophisticated
• gracious
• considerate
• urbane
• citified

roughneck

2 of 2

noun

ˈrəf-ˌnek 

as in thug

a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang

a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thug
• gangster
• criminal
• villain
• bandit
• ruffian
• pirate
• tough
• assassin
• hoodlum
• gorilla
• thief
• hooligan
• rowdy
• mobster
• hood
• punk
• offender
• bully
• gangbanger
• gangsta
• goon
• yobbo
• yob
• plug-ugly
• toughie
• scoundrel
• cutthroat
• outlaw
• desperado
• felon
• perpetrator
• robber
• mug
• mafioso
• crook
• brigand
• racketeer
• swindler
• highwayman
• vandal
• lawbreaker
• malefactor
• perp
• pickpocket
• gunman
• bravo
• tearaway
• juvenile delinquent

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of roughneck

Adjective

The show seems organically suited for a more action comedy take, given Hooker’s old style and often roughneck crime fighting style, which seemed out of place in a more woke world. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025

Trey Smoak’s roughneck monitor lizard was out of his sight for about 10 minutes Friday when the Crowley resident went to put up groceries. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2024

Noun

Beyond his duties as a host and journalist, the native West Texan spent time working as an oil roughneck himself, and grew up in a family with members in the fields. — William Earl, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025

The West Texas native worked in the Permian Basin oil fields as a roughneck and later joined Texas Monthly as a fact-checker then staff writer. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026