: crude in nature, method, or manner but effective in action or use
a rough-and-ready solution

Examples of rough-and-ready in a Sentence

a rough-and-ready shack that the explorers threw together as winter approached
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.
Their rough-and-ready vérité shooting style creates an intimacy with the subject that deepens the emotional response to music that for many of us is ingrained in our DNA. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024 James meets rough-and-ready cowboy Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott) upon arrival in Fort Worth and joins his wagon train heading West. Rendy Jones, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2024 That means looks or labels that are forged in the sweat and heat of the city’s legendary nightlife and its edgy, rough-and-ready street style. Cathrin Schaer, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 As Singer’s book documents, Siskel and Ebert’s frequent riffs about their show amount to a rough-and-ready touchstone—even a questionnaire—for critics of all stripes to ponder. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023 Iteration is crucial in video-game design Typically a video-game project starts with the team throwing together a few rough-and-ready first drafts to make sure the concept works. IEEE Spectrum, 26 June 2023 They're all looked after by their gruff, rough-and-ready sometimes-mama, Raleigh (Laurie Metcalf). Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 June 2023 Prototypes from any company are often very rough-and-ready at the beginning. David Phelan, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 Equity-market strategists who answer this question for a living develop rough-and-ready answers by simplifying it. Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 13 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-and-ready was in 1730

Dictionary Entries Near rough-and-ready

Cite this Entry

“Rough-and-ready.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-and-ready. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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