roughness

noun

Definition of roughnessnext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality a roughness to the wine that should decrease with age

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rudeness
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste the roughness of pioneer life is not glossed over in the documentary

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 roughness Delane, who was taken by the Chiefs in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft out of LSU, was fined $12,537 for unnecessary roughness on a low block. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026 The Horned Frogs committed 11 penalties in both games against North Carolina and UCF, including multiple unnecessary roughness penalties and holding calls that derailed drives. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2026 Okereke himself, who was the one called for the unnecessary roughness penalty, was disappointed but resolute postgame. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026 The unnecessary roughness penalty gave New York 15 yards during a drive that ultimately ended with a touchdown. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Murray took a jarring hit to the side of his helmet that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Green Bay safety Javon Bullard, leaving Murray on the turf in the type of defensive pose that can accompany brain trauma. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 Before a big event, exfoliate, paying extra attention to areas prone to roughness or dryness, like elbows, knees and wrists. — Ellie Beeck, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026 Bullard was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but the Vikings weren't concerned about further punishment. — CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 Then Holland was hit with a fourth quarter unnecessary roughness penalty for a late hit on Cowboys receiver Ryan Flournoy. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughness
  1. bitterness
  2. rudeness
  3. edge
  4. lowness
  5. bite
  6. coarseness
  7. harshness
  8. grossness
Noun
  • Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Arugula’s natural bitterness kicks off digestion before the first bite, cueing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes that help the body prepare to break down a meal.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • But the opposition is steeped in that same monotone rudeness.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of rudeness
Noun
  • Details like floor-to-ceiling glass and oak ceilings add to the home’s grandeur, and a fire pit at the edge of the lawn—plus private beach access—are ideal for travelers who want to soak in the salty breeze.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For a cold moment the silence locked a grip on our table, though it was broken, at the edges, by the golf commentators moaning and harrumphing, Rory McIlroy having had a canary on a seventeenth fairway somewhere this championship Sunday.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • That feeling stops, however, when pulling into gas stations or parking lots, where the length and lowness of the car require extreme care to keep the chin from scraping.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of lowness
Noun
  • The pilots informed air traffic controllers ahead of landing that one person had a bloody nose and another person had bite marks and requested that medical personnel be waiting at the gate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The mild sweetness of onions pairs naturally with tallow’s savory character, and when fried at the right temperature the coating turns crisp and golden without the onions losing their tender bite.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Most denim blends using hemp only include 20 or 30 percent of the fiber due to its coarseness.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But many seemingly urbane texts also benefited from the intellectual and moral coarseness of their times.
    — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of coarseness
Noun
  • Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images Grief, loneliness, and the harshness of Eton’s education put Harry to the test.
    — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Reparations are about exercising a radical vision, thinking beyond the harshness of life, and knowing that something better is possible.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of harshness
Noun
  • But Paddy’s isn’t Sudz, and the Gang’s efforts to soft-pedal their antics to be more in line with those mainstream bars devolved into typical Sunny-style hostility and off-putting grossness.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
  • All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.
    — Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
Definition of grossness

Browse Nearby Words

roughnecks
roughness
roughs
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Cite this Entry

“Roughness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughness. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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