1
: being in a rough, unsmoothed, or unfinished state : crudely formed
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking refinement
he was rather attractive, in a rough-hewn kind of wayJan Speas

Examples of rough-hewn in a Sentence

a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Inside the former church was a sunken living room with comfortably oversize seating arranged around a fireplace, an enormous kitchen and dining area with a ceiling crossed by rough-hewn wooden beams, and a grand bedroom that had the presence of a theater set. Peter Terzian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024 His brooding, rough-hewn features were recognizable worldwide, his name a rallying cry from South America to the Vatican. Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024 This rough-hewn iteration of Wolverine, a.k.a. Logan, could use a little personal redemption anyway, though the majority of the running time finds the two squabbling incessantly in what’s essentially an enemies-to-lovers storyline. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2024 The young vineyards are planted on rocky slopes, steps from a delightfully rough-hewn tasting room at the top of the hill, giving them maximum benefit from the marine breezes blowing in from the Atlantic. Paola Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for rough-hewn 

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-hewn was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near rough-hewn

Cite this Entry

“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hewn. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rough-hewn

adjective
ˈrəf-ˈhyün
1
: being rough or unfinished
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking smooth manners or social grace
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!