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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough
Nick Ashbourne, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
What to Consider The beach is best for strolls or lounging as the waters are too rough to swim.
—Emily Hochberg, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2024
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
Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
In a preview of the Fox show, Nicole, 32, is introduced alongside other star competitors set to rough it on season 3, like Denise Richards and Brody Jenner.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rough 
Adjective
Rielly’s effort on the second goal was particularly rough as he got caught way behind the play in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Simon Holmstrom’s progress.
—Nick Ashbourne, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
What to Consider The beach is best for strolls or lounging as the waters are too rough to swim.
—Emily Hochberg, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2024
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
While roughing it in minimal tents on misshapen ground is the norm for American backpackers, inn-to-inn hiking lets a trekker luxuriate with a hot meal and a plush bed at the end of a long foot-sore day.
—Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
In a preview of the Fox show, Nicole, 32, is introduced alongside other star competitors set to rough it on season 3, like Denise Richards and Brody Jenner.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough
Adjective
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The 28-year-old actor appeared on the Dec. 12 episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert with his latest look, a thin mustache and his normally long curly hair trimmed in a shorter, shaggy crop.Hedy Phillips, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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Take a cue from the Olsen handbook and look for shaggy details, longline shapes, and reversible designs.Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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After a violent campaign in which Buddhists killed a number of priests and destroyed churches, in 1909, locals built the church that Galipeau visited in Cizhong.Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Dec. 2024
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Prosecutors also said that some of the violent pornography Heuermann owned included methods consistent with the injuries to Mack's body and how she was bound with ropes.Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Nissan has weathered a turbulent decade, including the 2018 arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, who later jumped bail and fled Japan concealed in a music equipment box.AFP, Fortune Asia, 23 Dec. 2024
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There is no way of overestimating Duffy’s leadership during those turbulent times.Tim Kiska, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One thing that stands out to me is the federal government’s seeming use of fear, confusion and uncertainty—combined with very nuanced language—to target individuals, agencies and companies who, in many cases, have been trying to do the right thing by leveling the uneven playing field of the past.Doug Melville, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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An uneven merger landscape had a ripple effect on several players, and a sector-wide shift towards the premium end of the market left budget carriers scrambling to rethink their business models.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An at least 200-year-old celebration of French and Mediterranean cuisine, macarons are renowned as the ‘impossible dessert,’ a result of the notoriously involved and difficult baking process.Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency’s own staff and external companies.Stephanie Glenk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Carro, known for his tough stance on crime and his experience with cases involving terrorism enhancements, will play a key role in shaping the trial's proceedings.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Business has been especially tough for foreign brands in China, where electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD are leading the way as demand grows for less polluting vehicles.AFP, Fortune Asia, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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After a long bout of gruff banter, Frank gets personal, invoking his dead son, Joseph.Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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The actress uncovers enough credibility in the character to withstand the syrupy sports drama’s conventions, offsetting the gruff Eastwoodisms on which the film is built. 19.Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Far from prolific in front of goal, the Senegalese looked out of sorts, full of running and hunger to score but clumsy, his anxious limbs snatching at chances rather than taking them naturally.Henry Flynn, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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The first few episodes were rife with clumsy and, at times, confusing time jumps, many that seemed tacked on to preexisting scenes in an effort to retrofit them for a new, Costner-less reality.Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Rough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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