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.

But all eyes will be on Malinin, a skater with such unbridled athleticism and talent that the experts say he is still a diamond in the rough.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Dec. 26, 2025

Like most late-round prospects hoping to become a diamond in the rough, Horn came with questions.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

Wild Mother had also turned to social media to find her tribe - having been called "a weirdo, an alien, a diamond in the rough" offline - and has built a following of thousands.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2024

Each nail I drove in the rough pine boards caused the knot in my throat to get bigger and bigger.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

in the rough

Example Sentences

Related Words