roughneck

1 of 2

noun

rough·​neck ˈrəf-ˌnek How to pronounce roughneck (audio)
Synonyms of roughnecknext
1
a
: a rough or uncouth person
b
: rowdy, tough
2
: a worker of an oil-well-drilling crew other than the driller

roughneck

2 of 2

adjective

: having the characteristics of or suitable for a roughneck

Synonyms of roughneck

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Noun

Adjective

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Examples of roughneck in a Sentence

Noun a town overrun by roughnecks a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people Adjective their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were
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Noun
This October, against this newly rumpled and roughneck version of the Milwaukee Brewers, that’s apparently going to be easier said than done. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 There’s also a romantic moment between Jean and Logan as the roughneck hero tries to figure out the best way to woo her after their initial meeting. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026 The show seems organically suited for a more action comedy take, given Hooker’s old style and often roughneck crime fighting style, which seemed out of place in a more woke world. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roughneck

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of roughneck was in 1834

Rhymes for roughneck

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Browse Nearby Words

rough music
roughneck
roughness
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Cite this Entry

“Roughneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roughneck. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

roughneck

noun
rough·​neck
ˈrəf-ˌnek
1
: a rough person : rowdy
2
: a worker on a crew drilling oil wells
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