ROUGH Synonyms: 695 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

rough 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrəf

Definition of rough

as in uneven

not having a level or smooth surface a rough board can give you splinters

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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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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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as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments

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as in tough

difficult to endure I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job

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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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as in clumsy

hastily or roughly constructed made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest

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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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as in shaggy

covered with or as if with hair a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard

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as in hairy

made of or resembling hair a rough-coated dog who was always shedding his fur

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as in bumpy

marked by a series of sharp quick motions a rough flight that left some passengers nauseated

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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

This means they can be launched into a rough area to find potential targets without the need for specific coordinates. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026 However, its remnants and the separate system over the West will continue to fuel a flash flood threat across portions of the Southwest, as well as bring rough surf and gusty winds, on Sunday and into Monday. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Noun

Site prep comes next, then permits before any work begins, then electrical rough-in by a licensed electrician. — Allison Palmer updated June 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026 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

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

Adjective

Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of uneven

Adjective

That, in turn, reveals a family history of violent gravitational instability caused by events like giant collisions and planetary ejections.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The show, which can certainly be tense, spends more time on being funny than violent.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of violent

Adjective

The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen went six-plus tough innings.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Defying the old-school stereotype of the hard-nosed, gruff newspaper boss, Vaughn often mentored young reporters in a serious but friendly and encouraging manner.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

Continue reading … SOUR NOTE — Hayley Williams unleashes vulgar insult at DHS after agency defends ICE officers.

— , FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
This has made some machine translations comically inaccurate, sometimes turning innocuous words into vulgar references in English.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of vulgar

Cite this Entry

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“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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