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Dictionary.com
Definitions

rough

[ruhf] / rʌf /
ADJECTIVE
uneven, irregular
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bumpy choppy coarse fuzzy harsh rocky rugged
STRONG
bearded broken chapped disheveled jagged ridged ruffled sharp tangled tousled wrinkled
WEAK
asperous brambly bristly bushy cragged craggy cross-grained hairy knobby knotty nodular not smooth scabrous scraggy shaggy stony tufted unequal unfinished unlevel unshaven unshorn woolly wrinkly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm courteous easy flat gentle mild nice polite refined smooth soft sophisticated
STRONG
neat ordered unwrinkled
WEAK
accurate complete definite even level moderate polished precise regular temperate
ADJECTIVE
stormy; not quiet
Synonyms
STRONGEST
choppy coarse dry harsh rugged turbulent
STRONG
agitated blustering buffeting grating husky jarring raging rasping wild
WEAK
blustery boisterous cacophonous discordant furious gruff hoarse inclement inharmonious raucous squally stridulent tempestuous tumultuous unmusical
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm courteous easy gentle mild moderate nice polite refined smooth soft sophisticated
WEAK
accurate complete definite even level polished precise regular temperate
ADJECTIVE
rude, impolite
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coarse cruel hard harsh nasty raw tough unpleasant unpolished violent
STRONG
bluff blunt brief crude extreme gross mean rowdy sharp short
WEAK
bearish boisterous boorish brusque churlish crass crusty curt discourteous drastic hairy ill-mannered improper inconsiderate indecorous indelicate inelegant loud loutish severe unceremonious uncivil uncouth uncultivated uncultured unfeeling ungracious unjust unmannerly unrefined untutored vulgar
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable clean delicate easy facile gentle good great kind merciful mild moral nice peaceful pleasant pleasing polite refined smooth soft sophisticated sympathetic wonderful
STRONG
calm lengthy long moderate
WEAK
accurate complete courteous definite even level polished precise regular temperate
ADJECTIVE
basic, incomplete
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hard raw sketchy unpolished
STRONG
crude imperfect spartan uncut undressed
WEAK
austere cursory formless rough-and-ready roughhewn rudimentary shapeless uncompleted unfashioned unfinished unformed unhewn unprocessed unrefined unwrought
Antonyms
STRONGEST
pleasant sophisticated
WEAK
accurate calm complete courteous definite even level mild moderate nice polished polite precise refined regular smooth temperate
ADJECTIVE
approximate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
foggy hazy sketchy uncertain
STRONG
estimated general
WEAK
amorphous imprecise inexact proximate rude unprecise vague
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain clear definite sure
WEAK
accurate calm complete courteous even level mild moderate nice polished polite precise refined regular smooth sophisticated temperate

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.

Ramaphosa would face "very rough and thorough questions" if impeachment proceedings were opened, he added.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Music continues to be a huge draw for movie theaters as the industry navigates rough waters amid hopes of a durable postpandemic recovery.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

By then Warsh will have voted on interest rates at least twice, sat through one Treasury refunding announcement, and presided over the rough draft of his proposed Fed-Treasury accord.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Much of its adjoining campus is in rough shape.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

“He’s just had a rough go of it.”

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman