SCABROUS Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'scabrous' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of scabrous are harsh , rough , rugged , and uneven . While all these words mean "not smooth or even," scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface. // a scabrous leaf

Q: Where would 'harsh' be a reasonable alternative to 'scabrous'?

The meanings of harsh and scabrous largely overlap; however, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch. // a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

Q: When would 'rough' be a good substitute for 'scabrous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to scabrous , rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface. // a rough wooden board

Q: When could 'rugged' be used to replace 'scabrous'?

While the synonyms rugged and scabrous are close in meaning, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel. // a rugged landscape

Q: When is it sensible to use 'uneven' instead of 'scabrous'?

The words uneven and scabrous can be used in similar contexts, but uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality. // an old house with uneven floors

scabrous

adjective

Definition of scabrous

as in troublesome

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How does the adjective scabrous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of scabrous are harsh, rough, rugged, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

Where would harsh be a reasonable alternative to scabrous?

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

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When would rough be a good substitute for scabrous?

While in some cases nearly identical to scabrous, rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

When could rugged be used to replace scabrous?

While the synonyms rugged and scabrous are close in meaning, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

When is it sensible to use uneven instead of scabrous?

The words uneven and scabrous can be used in similar contexts, but 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 scabrous Pope Francis often made scabrous criticisms of younger, more tradition-minded priests and faithful. — The Editors, National Review, 8 May 2025 Lamar mirrors Nas’s slow build to a scabrous eruption, followed by exhaustion. — Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 Is this Scott redoing American Gangster as a grand Italian tragedy, or scabrous comedy about a family undone by their ineptitude and excess? — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 Jacobs wrote the script with these three actors in mind, which was perhaps shocking news to each of them, who play scabrous women who locate the worst characteristics of each other and then blow them up into throwdown fights. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for scabrous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scabrous

Adjective

Ethan O’Connor seems well positioned for one of those jobs, and the prime challengers for the other are Damari Brown (whose availability is always a question because of the troublesome foot issue) and impressive second-year player Ja’boree Antoine.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Whiteflies are among the most troublesome, and tomatoes are one of their favorite hosts.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 18 July 2026

Definition of troublesome

Adjective

Sticky Glue There is nothing more vexing than the sticky debris leftover from a price tag, label, or a child’s sticker placed randomly around the house.

— Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
The annual Group of 7 summit for decades has been an occasion for the heads of state of Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and the United States to meet as friends and try to hash out a collective approach to the vexing problems of the day.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Definition of vexing

Adjective

On one side is challenger Holly Cook, who has filed for bankruptcy twice, been held in contempt of court on nine counts, been pursued by multiple collections agencies and once was labeled a vexatious litigant, court records showed.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 13 May 2026
The federal vexatious litigator statute allows the court to impose sanctions on a case by case basis for vexatious conduct.

— Jack Greiner, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Feb. 2026

Definition of vexatious

Adjective

The resulting cocktail is viscerally refreshing, juicy, and bright, but also deeply flavored and complex.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
Those involved in Connecticut’s plans note that supporting the state’s workforce through the AI transition is complex.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026

Definition of complex

Adjective

This includes courses such as the notoriously recondite organic chemistry as well as biology, general chemistry, and physics.

— Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Social Security’s internal workings are so recondite and poorly understood by average voters that numerous possible ways of imposing benefit cuts or otherwise harming the program are hiding in plain sight.

— Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

Definition of recondite

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“Scabrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scabrous. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of scabrous

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