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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 Port Royal is Jamaica's second World Heritage Site, with the first being the Blue and John Crow Mountains, a rugged and forested area in the country's east, which served as a refuge and hideout for people fleeing slavery. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 July 2025 Instead of windswept fields and rugged, snowy mountains, the region’s lush, subtropical conditions of 76 million years ago provided ample resources for both terrestrial and flying dinosaurs. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2025 Monument Valley Rising to 1,000 feet above the rugged desert landscape, the majestic sandstone buttes of Monument Valley anchor a dramatic scenic vista. Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025 Outdoor Enthusiasts: The RAV4’s available all wheel drive and rugged design, particularly in Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims, attract those who enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and both water and snow skiing. Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
Adjective
  • That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.
    Alex Harris July 25, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
  • The puppeteers then worked from the artist’s sculptures to make sturdier marionettes for performance.
    Ben Miller Laetitia Vançon, New York Times, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.
    Nicol León, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025
  • The trio had no phone signal to call for help, due to being so far down in the cave, and so Kate made the tough decision to leave the boys to find help.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Audiences can often sense the corporate overlords’ gruff hands pushing these previously distinct programs together.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 July 2025
  • On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Outside the venue, fans spotted an art installation featuring a muscular figure enclosed in a clear box — seemingly a nod to the upcoming album’s cover art.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 19 July 2025
  • The killings began just days after Thomas Barrack, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Syria (and the U.S. ambassador to Turkey) laid out a muscular vision for a centralized Syria.
    Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • The vastness of the canyon, with its jagged edges and rushing rivers.
    Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 16 July 2025
  • Major stock indexes continued their jagged descent downward in morning trading Tuesday after tumbling Monday.
    Tobias Burns, The Hill, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • They are often considered the most beautiful irises but can be difficult to grow.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
  • Speaking with director Joe Johnston, Oka explained the two most difficult things to simulate digitally at the time were human skin and water.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Wander the ruins of Cristóvão de Moura’s palace, a poignant echo of Portugal’s turbulent entanglement with Spanish rule.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • All died in the turbulent waters of Lake Michigan while vacationing in South Haven, where public outrage over the lack of lifeguards has been building.
    Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • California can lead the nation in fighting back against their crass & selfish strategy to undermine democracy.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • To celebrate the unearned good fortune of those privileges felt as crass in its way as praising the life-changing effects of a winning lottery ticket.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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