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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 An uneven surface can disrupt the suction power and could cause the unit to fall. PC Magazine, 19 Apr. 2025 Course Conditions Challenging conditions like hilly terrain, high elevations, or uneven trails can slow your pace. Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025 But the efforts produced uneven results and sometimes troubling side effects like uncontrolled movement. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 17 Apr. 2025 But with the addition of meaty tires, the result is bobbling side to side on uneven pavement, and the occasional entertaining hop over water channels at boulevard intersections. Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uneven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uneven
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
  • Evans' latest film, Havoc, stars Tom Hardy as Walker, an unsavory fixer tasked with protecting the son of real estate tycoon Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker) after the kid stumbles into a plot involving the Yakuza, crooked cops, and other assorted goons.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Rooker plays Steve, a crooked detective with a ruthless streak who holds the key to Hammer’s only weakness.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Oz has had 30 (homers) and 100 (RBIs) before and can have some rough patches and still has a way of coming out of it.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman had a rough outing against the New York Yankees on Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Premiering April 20 on Nat Geo and streaming April 21 on Disney+ and Hulu, the three-part series is a visual triumph made possible by engineering grit, field science, and the kind of rugged tech innovation typically reserved for space exploration.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Unveiled at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, this futuristic machine is built to handle rugged terrain with ease, combining cutting-edge robotics and sustainable energy.
    Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Being Wealthy In Mexico–Average Net Worth And The Top 10% Statista data shows that Mexico is one of the most unequal countries in Latin America in terms of wealth distribution.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • One of the biggest caveats is the unequal division of household chores, which can leave one person doing most of the work while others contribute little to nothing.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Brantly, who is going on the injured list, had been promoted two weeks ago to replace starting catcher Nick Fortes, who was placed on the injured list April 10 with a left oblique strain.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique strain) will play back-to-back games in Binghamton this weekend, and the team will evaluate his status Monday.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Using accessible platforms such as 311, public school parents and community members should be able to report broken buzzers and defective security equipment in schools to ensure administrators can quickly address defects and replace them.
    Savanah Jackson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Rigid robots are prone to damage in unstable, cramped environments and are expensive to repair.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Remember: Antioxidants can slow aging and prevent skin damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.
    Danielle Jackson, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uneven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uneven. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on uneven

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