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
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Recent Examples of roughness
Two Commanders players — defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin — and one Eagles player — offensive lineman Tyler Steen — were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness during the brawl.
—
Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Reflections of moonlight off the ocean can help scientists study sea-surface conditions, such as roughness and wave patterns, even at night.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Perryman was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but he wasn’t ejected from the game for his second-quarter tackle during the Chargers’ 34-17 victory.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
In 2023, when safety partner Kareem Jackson was suspended multiple times for unnecessary roughness, Locke filled in next to Simmons.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
He was flagged for unnecessary roughness during the game, and now he is slated to miss the rest of the regular season for the Chargers.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended by the NFL for the last two games of the regular season following an unnecessary roughness penalty in a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
—CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Washington's Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The toggles, the heavy gauge of the knit, the tactile roughness of the wool—these are grounding forces.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 16 Dec. 2025
Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Reflections of moonlight off the ocean can help scientists study sea-surface conditions, such as roughness and wave patterns, even at night.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Perryman was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but he wasn’t ejected from the game for his second-quarter tackle during the Chargers’ 34-17 victory.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
In 2023, when safety partner Kareem Jackson was suspended multiple times for unnecessary roughness, Locke filled in next to Simmons.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
He was flagged for unnecessary roughness during the game, and now he is slated to miss the rest of the regular season for the Chargers.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended by the NFL for the last two games of the regular season following an unnecessary roughness penalty in a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
—CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Washington's Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen were disqualified after being flagged for unnecessary roughness.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The toggles, the heavy gauge of the knit, the tactile roughness of the wool—these are grounding forces.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughness
Noun
-
Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At restaurants, waiters would ignore me for long stretches—not out of rudeness, but because lingering is just built into the culture.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Not, of course, if the intention of the query is to justify rudeness or to be combative.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
24 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The measure appears to have been the least favored around the southeastern edge of the county, an area that was originally supposed to get access to the silver line.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
These changes, as well as, wearing bangs were a major key to keeping her edges strong.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From comfort food classics to more elevated plates, several bites stood out at a preview event.—
Alexa Stone
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Guests will naturally gravitate towards these pairings, ensuring the perfect bite.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There is plenty of coarseness in American arenas totally unrelated to MAGA or Trumpism, of course.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
An alkaline compound, baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Middleton aimed to create a score that reflects the harshness and hope of the desert setting.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The harshness of the language and the raw politicking shocked voters.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Brain scans revealed the severity of the bleeds and whether patients showed signs of cerebral small vessel disease, a condition that damages tiny blood vessels in the brain and is linked to aging, high blood pressure and dementia.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
He is charged with open and lewd grossness.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In fact, plenty of other things in your home surpass the toilet in terms of grossness.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roughness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughness. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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