1
as in uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
a rough board can give you splinters
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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 difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments
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5
as in tough
difficult to endure
I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job
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6
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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7
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest
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8
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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9
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rowdy
Related Words
as in to chop
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough
Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026
For drivers who frequently encounter rough roads, muddy conditions, or outdoor environments, durable options such as the All-Weather TPE Floor Mats for 2015-2026 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab, offer wear-resistant protection against scratches, debris, and long-term interior wear.
—New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Scheffler pushed his drive into the right fairway bunker on the par-4, could only advance the ball 54 yards into the left rough and gouged his third shot short of the green.
—John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Mara, though, has no trouble roughing it when the need arises, and she’s just finished shooting two much leaner productions.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough
Adjective
And listen, the world is a very rough place, man.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2026
For drivers who frequently encounter rough roads, muddy conditions, or outdoor environments, durable options such as the All-Weather TPE Floor Mats for 2015-2026 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab, offer wear-resistant protection against scratches, debris, and long-term interior wear.
—New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Noun
Perhaps Sullivan uncovers a young diamond-in-the-rough who hasn’t received much of a chance but blossoms here.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Scheffler pushed his drive into the right fairway bunker on the par-4, could only advance the ball 54 yards into the left rough and gouged his third shot short of the green.
—John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Visiting the Grand Canyon does not have to mean roughing it.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Mara, though, has no trouble roughing it when the need arises, and she’s just finished shooting two much leaner productions.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
-
Drafty rooms, open windows, ceiling fans, and uneven surfaces can disrupt the flame, causing uneven melting, excessive soot, or wax that burns faster on one side than the other.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
This noncomodegenic and fragrance-free serum foundation helps smooth redness and uneven skin texture.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
No one in the NFL tweets about the players who commit violent crimes or are arrested for reckless driving incidents, either.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
-
The Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist group linked to IS, is one of the dominant rebel groups there and responsible for violent attacks against civilian targets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
The collapse of its currency is changing that—placing Jakarta at the center of a turbulent 2026.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
The shutdown adds to a turbulent stretch for Madrigal’s restaurant empire.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her ex, Karl (Jake Johnson, impressively devoid of his signature gruff charm), wants to move their adorable daughter, Hazel (Nola Wallace), from New York to Boise with his new partner, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), a polished grown-up who makes the bohemian Paula feel like a mess.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
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But the grizzled former Man in Black and man-who-failed-to-ground-Maverick isn’t known for playing the type of gruff ol’ cowpoke who’s about to break into song.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Although at least 20 players support some type of protest, the rollout of the boycott that never happened, came across a bit clumsy.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
For one, the Frenchie vision is just corny and clumsy, and so is the idea of Kimiko harnessing the power of love to defeat the bad guy without succumbing to vengeful rage.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Since then, there have been claims of gunfire and a drone used to disrupt the center's operations; vulgar name-calling online targeting Seymour and his wife; and the occasional middle finger raised in passing by other neighbors who have also become involved.—
DANA HEDGPETH THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2026
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The video from a nearby camera phone showed Crow-Armstrong using a vulgar phrase that involved one of his body parts and calling the woman a derogatory name.—
Jon Greenberg,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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