1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard
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2
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
rough waters that made sailing our sloop a little risky
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3
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
at least wear a raincoat if you're going out into that rough weather
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4
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
a rough board can give you splinters
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5
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments
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6
as in tough
difficult to endure
I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job
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7
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the rough faces of hardened criminals who had spent most of their lives behind bars
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8
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest
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9
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
he learned polite words to replace the rough language he had known growing up
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10
11
12
as in wild
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
after a rough week on the high seas, we were happy to sail through the gulf's more tranquil waters
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as in rowdy
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as in to chop
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 May 2025
Their bodies, often drab gray or brown, can be wart-studded and rough or slimy to the touch.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2023
Players will also encounter four-inch rough, which has been left to grow thickly undisturbed.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023
Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025
But a pass interference or roughing the passer call here and there just slants the odds in one team’s favor.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Adjective
Porter repented for a rough start to the series by scoring 21 points on 5-of-6 outside shooting.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 9 May 2025
Their bodies, often drab gray or brown, can be wart-studded and rough or slimy to the touch.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Noun
That stone dates to 1878, when Charles Lewis Tiffany acquired the 287-carat rough that was unearthed in South Africa’s Kimberly mine, for a mere $18,000.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2023
Players will also encounter four-inch rough, which has been left to grow thickly undisturbed.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023
Verb
Referees came under similar scrutiny during the Chiefs' divisional round playoff win against the Houston Texans one week earlier when a pair of roughing the passer penalties were called against the Texans for hits on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025
But a pass interference or roughing the passer call here and there just slants the odds in one team’s favor.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
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Not that a show as concerned with integrity as Good Night, and Good Luck wants the superficial pulse of a thriller, but still, there’s something a touch too shaggy in its current theatricality to keep us consistently attuned to its turns and its stakes.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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This romantically rustic wreath weaves shaggy swags of greenery with white tulips and stalks of berries, then ties it all together with a neat black-and-white bow.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Children are being exposed to an unprecedented amount of online pornography, much of which is violent and misogynistic.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 May 2025
-
However, the Salvadoran national was living in the U.S. illegally and is suspected of being a member of the notoriously violent gang MS-13.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Keep in mind, substantial wealth can be created in the market by those who maintain a composed and strategic approach during turbulent times.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
-
The film spans two decades of a country in profound transformation with a new perspective into contemporary China and individual experience amid turbulent change.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
The two men had worked together for years, selling everything from colon cleanses to get-rich-quick advice, before pivoting to crypto with uneven results.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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An even newer device, an electronic screener or balance board, measures foot movements as the patient tries to balance themselves on an uneven surface with their eyes open, and then closed.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Rust, a difficult movie to release, grossed $25k at 115 theaters, presented by Falling Forward Films.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
-
Clematis wilt is a fungal infection that is difficult to treat.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Federal judges have so far been skeptical of the Trump administration’s past efforts to use extraordinary powers to make deportations easier, and that could make suspending habeas corpus even tougher.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Last year’s drought conditions that extended into late fall combined with very windy winter conditions and frozen soils were tough for some evergreens.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Fimmel digs into the more stereotypical gruff bounty hunter with relish, though the character itself is a western staple.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
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There’s a gruff lyricism to the performance that’s entrancing even when Elmer is standing up in a coffin.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For those things that are bigger, or subject to rough forces like clumsy human hands, through-hole soldering is still required, with leads poked through a connective hole and solder applied to connect and join them securely.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
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The rubber sole is also important for clumsy gals like myself.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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