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Dictionary.com
Definitions

in the rough

ADJECTIVE
crude
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amateurish coarse harsh homemade makeshift primitive raw rude rudimentary simple unprocessed
STRONG
green homespun outline prentice rough rustic thick
WEAK
callow immature impure inexpert rough-hewn sketchy undeveloped unfinished unformed ungraded unmatured unmilled unpolished unprepared unproficient unsorted untaught untrained unworked unwrought
Antonyms
STRONGEST
refined smooth sophisticated
STRONG
polished
WEAK
stilted
ADJECTIVE
unfinished
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bare incomplete unadorned undeveloped unfulfilled
WEAK
amateurish crude cut short dabbling defective deficient dilettante faulty formless found wanting fragmentary half-baked half-done immature imperfect in the making lacking natural not done plain raw rough roughhewn shapeless sketchy tentative unaccomplished unassembled uncompleted unconcluded under construction undone unexecuted unfashioned unperfected unpolished unrefined wanting
Antonyms
WEAK
completed finished polished refined whole
ADJECTIVE
unprocessed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
raw
STRONG
unrefined
WEAK
amateurish callow coarse green harsh homemade homespun immature impure inexpert makeshift native outline prentice primitive rough rough-hewn rude rudimentary rustic simple sketchy thick undeveloped unfinished unformed ungraded unmatured unmilled unpolished unprepared unproficient unsorted untaught untrained unworked unwrought

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bhatia enjoyed six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 14th, where he chipped in from 47 feet out in the rough.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Certain items may be overvalued, while others may be the proverbial diamonds in the rough.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 26, 2025

That isn’t the case across the board, though, and there could be a couple of diamonds in the rough that have been unfairly punished, or at least have the potential to turn around in 2026.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

Jadeja began to land the ball in the rough, troubling Stokes and Root either side of the second rain delay.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2025

Most of my siblings regard me as being spoiled and a troublemaker, but Pa says I am really a diamond in the rough.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung