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rugged

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

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Synonyms & Antonyms of rugged

1 able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure

a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years

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2 difficult to endure

the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced

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3 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance

the warrior's rugged features frightened the child

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4 having muscles capable of exerting great physical force

a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics

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5 not having a level or smooth surface

rugged terrain that made for slow going

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nonuniform

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flush

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6 requiring considerable physical or mental effort

even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert

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7 marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements

New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America

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8 lacking in refinement or good taste

the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties

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Frequently Asked Questions About rugged

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