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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rugged contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rugged are harsh, rough, scabrous, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

When would harsh be a good substitute for rugged?

The meanings of harsh and rugged largely overlap; however, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When might rough be a better fit than rugged?

The words rough and rugged are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

When can scabrous be used instead of rugged?

The synonyms scabrous and rugged are sometimes interchangeable, but scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

When is it sensible to use uneven instead of rugged?

While the synonyms uneven and rugged are close in meaning, uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

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 rugged In the rugged mountains of northeastern Brazil, , a region long influenced by mining, something new and unusual was hidden in the darkness, according to researchers. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025 Sherpani’s Mia travel backpack is a rugged all-around pack that’s big enough for a weekend trip away, but small enough to be your everyday work bag. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, the rugged, waterproof build handles poolside splashes without drama. PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025 After breakfast, drive north from Palma about 25 minutes to the Serra de Tramuntana, a rugged mountain range (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) that covers the island’s northwest coast. Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
Adjective
  • Any question which of those teams has a stout and sturdy offensive line?
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
  • If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Falcons' offense has emerged as one of the toughest in the league, causing multiple turnovers a game.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • How self-reflection operates matters because it will always be needed to make wiser choices about our toughest challenges.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But encounters with the island’s residents, including with his gruff but warm-hearted landlady (played by German screen legend Hanna Schygulla), gradually alter his outlook.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This test analyzes 20 key areas of nutritional and functional health, including a detailed look at metabolism, diet and all of their vital systems—from digestive and muscular to nervous and endocrine systems.
    Christine Persaud, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Two machines incorporated at Pintus’ request — one of them valued at more than €50,000 ($58,000; £43,000) — also played a more prominent role, allowing for exercises around muscular contractions and serving to test and measure the players’ progress.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Maah Daah Hey Trail runs for 144 miles, offering some of the best exposure to what’s left of the country’s majestic grasslands, plus surprisingly jagged peaks, rugged plateaus, and ample river crossings.
    Jacqueline Kehoe, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Its alpine-style streets, surrounded by jagged peaks, are lined with breweries and boutique shops.
    Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These events encourage community members to dispose of hazardous materials like gasoline, oil, chemicals, and more, which can be difficult to dispose of and pose a safety risk if not handled correctly.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Don't Look Now manipulates audiences' minds, mixing elements of the occult with the overwhelming need for hope into a plot twist audiences will find difficult to swallow.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Nintendo Switch era has been turbulent for the franchise, to put it mildly.
    Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Now, in an increasingly turbulent world, those barriers are going back up.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Each project presented at MIA is picked with a genuine desire for these works to come to the fore, not by crass commercial considerations.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.
    Lizz Winstead, Time, 27 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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