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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 This will create a cascading effect that adds movement to the overall design and softens the stone’s rugged edges. Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025 Birkenstock Kalahari Sandal These rugged Kalahari sandals are built for adventure. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2025 Average or above skaters who can make plays and contribute to the rugged side of the game. Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 This ceramic vase has a rugged, natural matte texture and measures 14.4 inches high, so it’s bound to be a statement piece on your table, mantle, etc. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
Adjective
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Four times, he’s used it to strikeout hitters, with the horizontal break being tough to pick up.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • However, the emotional side of living with the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be just as tough.
    Caitlin Carlson, SELF, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.
    James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The muscular gizzard contains grit pecked up from the chicken’s ground feeding, which is used to crush up the chicken’s food.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The lack of a muscular public reaction to the AP being under fire from the Trump team has also exposed divisions in the WHCA.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The brown resurrection fern that grew thick along the jagged edges of the hollow was changing to a bright green right before her eyes.
    Lizz Schumer, People.com, 1 May 2025
  • The jagged edges matched the pointed toes of her metallic silver stilettos.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The transition can be extremely difficult for some.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That might be the ultimate takeaway for leaders navigating turbulent times.
    Karl Moore, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Which brings me to another important lesson from turbulent times: market timing (still) does not work.
    Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Alfonso goes head-to-head against a crass but famous on social media CEO Shari de Jesus (Kyline Alcantara), who is being mentored by a powerful industry veteran Velma Imperial (Ruffa Gutierrez).
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Trump sued Maher in 2013 for $5 million after the comedian made a crass joke about his mother and an orangutan.
    Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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