rough 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrəf How to pronounce rough (audio)
Definition of roughnext
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
as in hairy
made of or resembling hair a rough-coated dog who was always shedding his fur

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11
as in bumpy
marked by a series of sharp quick motions a rough flight that left some passengers nauseated

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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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rough

2 of 3

noun

as in rowdy

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rough

3 of 3

verb

as in to chop

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rough are harsh, rugged, scabrous, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

In what contexts can harsh take the place of rough?

While in some cases nearly identical to rough, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When is rugged a more appropriate choice than rough?

In some situations, the words rugged and rough are roughly equivalent. However, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

Where would scabrous be a reasonable alternative to rough?

Although the words scabrous and rough have much in common, scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

When might uneven be a better fit than rough?

The meanings of uneven and rough largely overlap; however, uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rough
Adjective
Drake Maye didn’t have to be perfect after his rough start to the season. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 The Liberty had a rough regular season in the WNBA, falling to eighth place despite having several women’s basketball headliners on the roster. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
Kim hit her second shot into the left rough on the par-14 13th, and wound up sliding a 10-foot putt to the right for bogey. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 8 June 2026 Cole getting a huge break after his ball somehow bounced through the left rough before settling on the edge of the short grass. — CBS News, 31 May 2026
Verb
Her selection enraged Iran’s hard-line Shiite theocracy, which increased her prison time and later sent guards to rough her up along with other prisoners who were protesting inside Evin Prison. — ABC News, 1 May 2026 This gorgeous camp on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau brings you back to nomad-style basics, without roughing it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
  1. uneven
  2. violent
  3. turbulent
  4. difficult
  5. tough
  6. gruff
  7. clumsy
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • This formula features mandelic acid for gentle exfoliation and niacinamide to brighten uneven tone.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His results, along with those of James, have been uneven so far.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • France is currently in the throes of another political crisis, with violent student protests now stretching into their third week.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The protest was sparked by photos shared on the social media platform Snapchat showing violent messages threatening to rape and kill a female student.
    — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • While introducing his new film, Gilroy praised the festival’s lineup as a bright spot amid an increasingly turbulent Hollywood landscape.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Given today's turbulent prices, don't read too much into MSRPs for products like graphics cards in 2026.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Finding people at high risk of incubating the Bundibugyo virus, also known as contact tracing, has proved difficult in Congo.
    — CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • McKinsey’s data says some of those moves can be difficult for certain workers.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Now, Germino says her social media presence is all about giving other patients going through the same tough decision an example of someone who’s thriving after the procedure.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's administration is about to start tough budget negotiations against a backdrop of division and economic turmoil.
    — Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • We were taught by a gruff cockney called Fred Waring, who had participated in the D-Day landings in a regiment that had fought its way across Europe towards Berlin and liberated the concentration camp at Belsen.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
  • His only hope to get home turns out to be Nick (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent who loves American pop culture and is really good in a fight.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • One of the clumsiest parts of Klosterman’s book is his attempts at political punditry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Feed your head Neagley gets off to a sluggish start, with a workmanlike, rather clumsy first episode largely spent establishing the main characters and central plot—and the writers lean a bit too hard on constant Chicago callbacks.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • The woman's attorneys argued that the decision wrongly gives school officials wide latitude to squelch political speech based on their personal ideas of what is vulgar.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There were fraternity brothers exchanging vulgar messages about the accuseron Snapchat, echoing what Willis says happened after she herself was assaulted in 2014.
    — Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulgar

Phrases Containing rough

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rouges
rough
rough-and-ready
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Cite this Entry

“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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