Synonyms for

Rough

Verb / rʌf / Another word for rough — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

not smooth; uneven or irregular in surface or texture

Synonyms & similar words

crude cut jolting unsmooth jolty boisterous raspy roughin rasping pugnacious roughly jumpy smooth rocky uncut roughout gravelly fierce bumpy approximative harsh grating approximate scratchy coarse bumpy uneven jagged rocky irregular scratchy harsh unpolished gritty abrasive rugged scraggy scaly choppy unsmooth unequal knobby corrugated lumpy

Synonyms by register

Formal

coarse unrefined harsh crude

Informal

tough bumpy uneven tricky messy

Literary

rugged turbulent bristly

Antonyms

smooth gentle calm even placid sleek mild

Common collocations

  • rough sea
  • rough draft
  • rough estimate
  • rough terrain
  • rough patch
  • rough justice
  • rough idea

Word family

noun roughness
verb roughen
adjective rough
adverb roughly

Usage note

The word 'rough' can describe physical texture, difficult situations, or imprecise estimates. Be mindful of context to avoid ambiguity.

Example sentences

  1. The cat's tongue felt rough when it licked my hand.
  2. The rough sandpaper smoothed out the wood.
  3. The hiker climbed up the rough mountain trail.
  4. The waves were too rough to go swimming.
  5. The rough edges of the paper cut my finger.

Quotes

  • Life is a rough biography. Memories smooth out the edges. -Terri Guillemets
  • The rough places are what need the most love. -Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Life is a rough journey, and sometimes you fall down, but the dust has to be brushed off, and the tears wiped away. -Unknown

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