1
as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
a face rough with a couple days' worth of beard
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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 uneven
not having a level or smooth surface
a rough board can give you splinters
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5
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a forensics expert who willingly takes on rough assignments
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6
as in tough
difficult to endure
I've had a rough time of it since I lost my job
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7
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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8
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
made a rough camp as darkness fell over the forest
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9
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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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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as in rowdy
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as in to chop
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough
Dianna Russini, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
In the latest episode of New Heights, released Wednesday, February 26, Travis, 35, admitted to Jason, 37, that he's been going through a rough time since the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9 — and listening to 35-year-old Swift's music has helped.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2023
Players will also encounter four-inch rough, which has been left to grow thickly undisturbed.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Late hits and roughing the passer rank among plays that could soon be included on the list of reviewable plays.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Adjective
The question now: What’s next, particularly after a rough two-year stint with the Jets?
—Dianna Russini, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
In the latest episode of New Heights, released Wednesday, February 26, Travis, 35, admitted to Jason, 37, that he's been going through a rough time since the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on February 9 — and listening to 35-year-old Swift's music has helped.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
That stone dates to 1878, when Charles Lewis Tiffany acquired the 287-carat rough that was unearthed in South Africa’s Kimberly mine, for a mere $18,000.
—Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2023
Players will also encounter four-inch rough, which has been left to grow thickly undisturbed.
—Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023
Verb
The Golf Channel at one point stitched together clips of several players roughing it.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Late hits and roughing the passer rank among plays that could soon be included on the list of reviewable plays.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
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The lab mice, which have been modified to have shaggy fur and golden coats, are a demonstration of the kind of gene edits that the company hopes to perform on a much larger scale, modifying Asian elephants to more closely resemble their woolly mammoth ancestors.—
Matt Reynolds,
WIRED,
4 Mar. 2025
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The bed also has an anti-slip bottom and is made with shaggy sherpa fabric.—
Abby Kass,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That career has been highlighted by some of the most violent fights in MMA history.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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While confronting their violent history, a brutal bar fight and deadly feud reignites between Thomas, Ben, and the notorious Five Points Gang.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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The 1999 killing Syed and Lee both attended Woodlawn High School and had dated, broken up, reunited and broken up again in a relationship an appeals court described as turbulent.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Connecticut transit riders urged lawmakers to bolster funding and services for the state’s local commuter railroads on Wednesday, as ridership continues to experience an uneven rebound from the pandemic.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
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Two different curling irons — a 1-inch and a 1.5-inch — gave the pro uneven waves for a more natural feel.—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But their happy romance is soon demolished when Jenny reappears in their lives, thrusting all three into a difficult and messy journey towards true accountability and adulthood.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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These protein complexes are highly shape-shifting, making traditional imaging methods very difficult.—
Priyanka Naik,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This all adds up to a tough investment outlook for any business looking at Ukraine’s mineral supply.—
Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Ties during Trump’s first term One of the hallmarks of the first Trump Administration was a tougher stance towards China compared to his predecessors, through tit-for-tat tariffs and an Indo-Pacific strategy that aimed to curb Beijing’s growing influence in the Western Pacific.—
Chad de Guzman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The gruff but beloved Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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Ford’s actually relatively locked-in as the gruff but supportive Colonel Graff training the impressionable Ender (Asa Butterfield), who has to save the universe as all lads in these types of films tend to do.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2025
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Aviles’ dismissal, for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the penalty area, seemed set to turn the game.—
Martin Rogers,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to rough
Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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