roughness

1 a harsh or sharp quality a roughness to the wine that should decrease with age Synonyms acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, edge, sharpness, tartnessRelated Words ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorninessNear Antonyms gentleness, kindlinessAntonyms mildness, softness

2 the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste the roughness of pioneer life is not glossed over in the documentary Synonyms coarseness, commonness, crassness, crudeness, crudity, grossness, indelicacy, indelicateness, lowness, raffishness, rawness, vulgarity, rudeness, tastelessnessRelated Words boorishness, brutishness, churlishness, clownishness, loutishness, rowdiness, rusticity, uncouthness; artlessness, gracelessness, inelegance, unsophistication; insensitiveness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness; kitsch, tackinessNear Antonyms courtliness, urbanity; elegance, grace, graciousness; consideration, sensitivity, thoughtfulnessAntonyms cultivation, genteelness, gentility, polish, refinement, tastefulness