Definition of unevennext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective uneven contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of uneven are harsh, rough, rugged, and scabrous. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

When is harsh a more appropriate choice than uneven?

The synonyms harsh and uneven are sometimes interchangeable, but harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

In what contexts can rough take the place of uneven?

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

a rough wooden board

When could rugged be used to replace uneven?

The words rugged and uneven are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

When is it sensible to use scabrous instead of uneven?

While the synonyms scabrous and uneven are close in meaning, scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

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 uneven Even if conditions improve, progress will be uneven. Jessica Lautz, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026 This can also cause makeup to look uneven or settle into dry areas. Allison Forsyth, Health, 8 Apr. 2026 As an over-the-counter retinoid, retinol helps accelerate skin cell turnover, which can visibly improve uneven texture, fine lines, and discoloration over time. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 The clear pumps were designed to look as though they had been covered in blood, with a glossy red concentrated at the toes and splattered upward in an uneven way. Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uneven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uneven
Adjective
  • Glover, for instance, was particularly captivated by the jagged topography along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Outside the window were snippets of jagged peaks.
    Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In some studies, gloves not changed between tasks had higher bacterial counts and could transfer germs just as easily as ungloved hands, underscoring the need for frequent changing and proper hand hygiene.
    Evan Moore December 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Mahle had a very rough first inning, allowing four hits and issuing two walks, but escaped the frame having only allowed two runs despite the Mets having opportunities to put up a crooked number.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Debuting them in a brief, awkward first flight, like a firework that shoots crooked after being in storage too long.
    María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • With climate change causing storms to be stronger and rougher than in the past, communities up and down the California coast are facing a similar challenge, as other aging wooden piers suffer damage, leaving cities facing large bills while the public clamors to keep the popular attractions open.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Using your fingers and the outside edges of your palms, press in any rough spots or remaining dry bits of dough.
    Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • This is a recurring injury for Smith, who has missed five of the last nine games due to varying levels of discomfort in his calf.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Even within a single day, temporary weight shifts are common and are often due to varying levels of fluid retention.
    Lauren O'Connor, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Escalade also offers a large head up display and a tilted control panel to provide quick access to climate and other functions.
    Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Naturally, Uranus' tilted rotation has a part to play in how auroral activity manifests on the planet.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Isolated by its beautiful, rugged mountains, West Virginia sits entirely within Appalachia and has long been listed at the bottom of a laundry list of failings, including poor health and a lack of education.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Here, the sun cast stark, dramatic shadows across the moon’s steep cliffs, rugged ripples and seemingly bottomless craters.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The village’s Black residents, including Hettie, are energized by a promising but tangled effort to redress a long-standing injustice—the unequal compensation received by Black South African soldiers in the Second World War.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • As women’s earning power grows, their tolerance for an unequal domestic arrangement is shrinking.
    Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Uneven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uneven. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

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