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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective uneven contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of uneven are harsh, rough, rugged, and scabrous. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

When is harsh a more appropriate choice than uneven?

The synonyms harsh and uneven are sometimes interchangeable, but harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

In what contexts can rough take the place of uneven?

While in some cases nearly identical to uneven, rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

When could rugged be used to replace uneven?

The words rugged and uneven are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

When is it sensible to use scabrous instead of uneven?

While the synonyms scabrous and uneven are close in meaning, scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

Examples 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 uneven This foundation effortlessly evens out redness, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone without settling into creases or accentuating texture. Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Nov. 2024 His popularity slumped amid widespread discontent over Romania’s strong but uneven economic development, high inflation and other problems. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 On the whole, Trump’s gains in Wisconsin’s mid-sized, blue-collar cities were modest and uneven. Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024 The move relegates Miller Moss to a reserve role after nine uneven starts this season. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uneven 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uneven
Adjective
  • The jagged shadows of buttes and spires disappeared and reappeared, a merry-go-round of angles cast on to the cascading rocks cradling the Colorado River.
    Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
  • To the north, not visible from the beach, was a distant shore, where rows of mountains resembling jagged waves disappeared into the mist.
    Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Hanging a frame in my apartment the other day, a crooked placement gave me pause.
    Camille Freestone, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Mike seemed perfectly willing to negotiate with that crooked Nevada senator until the man got belligerent and racist and insulted Michael’s family.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Still, this is a good SSD if your portable drives lead a rough life in an everyday bag.
    Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Deer damage is more likely to occur on younger trees, which are easier to reach and haven’t developed a thick, rough, protective bark yet.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Made from 100 percent goat suede, the mid-weight Bandera offers a classic, timeless look that blends rugged durability with natural softness.
    Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Truck Ford Ranger: Ford’s popular midsize pickup added a Raptor performance model this year, complementing the rugged looks, utility and advanced features. Ram 1500: Ram’s flagship continues to raise the bar for full-size pickup design.
    Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • But the race also exemplified research that shows obstacles female candidates face, primarily unequal expectations.
    Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
  • This disparity is rooted in systemic issues such as unequal access to quality education, economic opportunities and financial services.
    Monique Johnson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Nick Bosa played through a hip injury to play Sunday, only to be knocked out of the game by an oblique injury.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
  • Mookie Betts missed almost two months with a broken left hand while Max Muncy was sidelined more than three months with a strained right oblique.
    Jerry Beach, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Allerton had stopped returning Lee’s letters some time ago, and the sting of their broken relationship lingers.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2024
  • But 18-month-old Pluto was found nearby with minor injuries, as well as Whiskey, who dug a hole in the snow despite having two broken legs.
    Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • However, there were periods of declining performance, as their ROI, ROE, and liquidity proved to be unstable and unpredictable during specific timeframes..
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Radioisotopes—unstable forms of chemical elements that release radiation—are a vital resource in medical imaging.
    Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near uneven

Cite this Entry

“Uneven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uneven. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on uneven

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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