1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years
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2
as in tough
difficult to endure
the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced
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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the warrior's rugged features frightened the child
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4
as in muscular
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics
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5
as in jagged
not having a level or smooth surface
rugged terrain that made for slow going
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert
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7
as in turbulent
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America
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8
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rugged
From the rugged Cliffs of Moher to the lively streets of Dublin, the country offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural charm.
—
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Midcentury Western To blend funky midcentury style with raw and rugged western style, focus on what the two have in common.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025
The Bridge on the River Kwai has a thorny message about loyalty and duty that’s wrapped in a rugged, articulate adventure film.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
His rugged features quickly appear not to reflect the arid expanse of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, home to the core operations of his $38 billion Fortescue iron-ore business.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugged
Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Midcentury Western To blend funky midcentury style with raw and rugged western style, focus on what the two have in common.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025
The Bridge on the River Kwai has a thorny message about loyalty and duty that’s wrapped in a rugged, articulate adventure film.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
His rugged features quickly appear not to reflect the arid expanse of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, home to the core operations of his $38 billion Fortescue iron-ore business.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
Adjective
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Parker Hall The Best Workout Headphones for Moving Around Constantly Rock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones.—
Brad Bourque,
WIRED,
15 Mar. 2025
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The exterior is made from a sturdy and durable polycarbonate material that won’t easily wear and tear, even after longhaul travel.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Another really tough stretch is ahead for the Heat.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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The only trick: Choose a dye that’s gentle on the hair, tough on grays, and easy to apply.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a gruff and garrulous baseball pitching and hitting machine called Pop Fly (Brian Cox).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
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In The Empire’s frame, residents of a coastal village in northern France — gruff, virile fisherman Jony (Brandon Vlieghe) and teenage tease Line (Lyna Khoudri) — reveal their oddball allegiance to extraterrestrial invaders.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Schumer also extended an invitation to Emma Larson, who received treatment for her spinal muscular atrophy due to a reimbursement from the National Institutes of Health, as well as Jessica Martinez and Ana Medina Garcia, recipients of Medicaid from New York.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
4 Mar. 2025
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Medicaid recipients Jessica Martinez and Ana Medina Garcia, cancer survivors and recipients of Medicaid, and Emma Larson, who received a lifesaving treatment for her spinal muscular atrophy due to a reimbursement from the National Institutes of Health, were also invited by Schumer.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As in so many shows about big conspiracies, Dope Thief’s pacing gets a bit jagged toward the end of its eight episodes.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
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Mix grains of cobalt, mined in Labrador, with potash, quarried in Saskatchewan, and whisks of beaver tail, all of it steeped over sharp, jagged Yukon ice.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2025
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Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination.—
Joel Shannon,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The turbulent decade that saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King’s assassination, and the Vietnam War meant that home viewers were more open to escapism and entertainment that would whisk them away from the world's horrors.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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Outside of turbulent foreign relations, the election comes at a critical time in Hollywood as the entertainment industry faces unprecedented uncertainty due to AI and plummeting profits.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump teaches this crass behavior to his MAGA minions so that many Americans can no longer distinguish true from false, right from wrong, justice from injustice.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
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There’s not really any sort of crude, crass direction.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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