rough › Synonyms

Synonyms for rough

Grouped by meaning, so you pick the word that fits what you mean. See the full definition of rough.

adjective · having or caused by an irregular surface

“trees with rough bark”

unsmooth
adjective · not quite exact or correct

“the approximate time was 10 o'clock”

approximateapproximative
adjective · full of hardship or trials

“the rocky road to success”

adjective · violently agitated and turbulent

“boisterous winds and waves”

adjective · unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound

“a gravelly voice”

adjective · ready and able to resort to force or violence

“pugnacious spirits … lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance”

adjective · causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements

“a rough ride”

adjective · not shaped by cutting or trimming

“an uncut diamond”

adjective · not carefully or expertly made

“managed to make a crude splint”

adjective · unpleasantly stern

“wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus”

adjective · unkind or cruel or uncivil

“had harsh words”

adverb · with roughness or violence (‘rough’ is an informal variant for ‘roughly’)

“he was pushed roughly aside”

adverb · with rough motion as over a rough surface

“ride rough”

verb · prepare in preliminary or sketchy form
rough inrough out

Opposites of rough