Synonyms of rough
120 similar words · 4 opposite words
Another word for rough is abrasive. Other synonyms of rough are ballpark. The opposite of rough is smooth.
Synonyms and similar words for rough
adjectiveNot smooth; uneven.
adjectiveApproximate; hasty or careless; not finished.
- almost
- back-of-the-envelopeEspecially of a calculation, estimation, or other reasoning, or an idea: approximate, rough, simplified.
- ballparkApproximate; close; on the right order of magnitude.
- near
adjectiveTurbulent.
adjectiveDifficult; trying.
- challengingDifficult, hard to do.
- hardDifficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
- toughOf a question, difficult or demanding.
- arduous
- nasty
- difficult
- sticky informal
- effortfulRequiring or showing effort.
- rockyEncountering many problems; difficult, troubled; also, in danger or distress.
- thistly
- uneathNot easy; hard.
- unsimpleNot simple.
adjectiveCrude; unrefined.
- rudimentaryBasic; minimal; with less than, or only the minimum, necessary.
- undevelopedNot developed or used.
- barbaricOf or relating to a barbarian; uncivilized, uncultured or uncouth.
- uncouthUnrefined, crude.
- crudeCharacterized by simplicity, especially something not carefully or expertly made.
- garagelike figurativelyRough and unfinished.
- primitiveCrude, obsolete.
- rude
- rudimentalRudimentary.
- unrefinedCrude, raw or unprocessed.
- aweless
- improper
- bad-manneredHaving bad manners; impolite.
- bold Ireland
- bumptiousObtrusively pushy; self-important; self-assertive to a pretentious extreme.
- churlish
- impudent
- discourteousImpolite; lacking consideration for others.
- gauche
- ill-bred
- ill-manneredHaving bad manners; impolite.
- impoliteNot polite; discourteous; not of polished manners; wanting in good manners.
- insolent
- lack-graceRude; graceless; bad-mannered.
- mismanneredHaving bad manners; impolite.
- uncivilNot civil; discourteous; impolite.
- uncivilizedLacking good manners.
- uncourteousNot courteous; impolite, rude.
- uncultured
- underbred
- unmannerlyNot mannerly (“polite; having good manners”).
- unpolishedNot refined in manners or style.
- unpolite
- incivil rareDisplaying a lack of courtesy; rude, impolite.
- rantipole obsoleteRude; unruly.
adjectiveWorn; shabby; weather-beaten.
- dilapidatedHaving fallen into a state of disrepair or deterioration, especially through neglect.
- raggedHaving rough edges; jagged or uneven.
- wrecksomeMarked by a wreck or wreckage; resembling something that has been wrecked; banged up.
- clapped out Australia, IrelandExhausted, worn out.
- damagedThat has suffered damage.
- defective
- deteriorated
- faulty
- munted Australia, slang
- outworn
- passé
- past it
- past one's primeNo longer in an ideal condition.
- raddledWorn-out and broken-down.
- ravaged
- rinky-dink US, informalOld-fashioned, tired; also, shabby, worn-out.
- shabbyOf clothing, a place, etc.: unkempt and worn or otherwise in poor condition due to age or neglect; scruffy.
- staleWorn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.
- tiredOld and worn.
- unimproved
- wastedRavaged or deteriorated.
- weakenedReduced; made less strong.
- wrecked
- worn
- worn-outDamaged due to continued or hard exposure or use until no longer effective or useful.
- worsened
- effete obsolete
adjectiveHaving socio-economic problems, hence possibly dangerous.
adjectiveViolent; not careful or subtle.
- lax
- negligent
- slipshod
- careless
- cursory
- derelict US
- heedlessUnaware; without noticing; careless; inattentive.
- irregardlessIrrespective, regardless.
- irrespective
- incautiousCareless, reckless, not exercising proper caution.
- neglectfulTending to neglect; failing to take care of matters which require attention; forgetful.
- reckless
- regardless
- remiss
- slack
- slapdashProduced or carried out hastily; haphazard; careless.
- sloppy
- slovenly
- unfaithful
- lash obsolete
adjectiveLoud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating.
- discordantOf sounds: harsh, jarring; specifically (music), of musical notes or tunes: not in harmony; dissonant, inharmonious.
- raucousHarsh and rough-sounding.
- unlistenableOf a sound, quality, or characteristic, that a person cannot listen to for an extended time.
- cacophonic
- cacophonicalCacophonous; harsh-sounding; unmusical.
- cacophoniousCacophonous; harsh-sounding; unmusical.
- cacophonousContaining, consisting of, or producing harsh, unpleasant or discordant sounds.
- disharmoniousSynonym of inharmonious: lacking harmony.
- dissonant
- honeyed
- horrisonantHaving an unpleasant sound.
- inharmonious
- insonorousNot clear or melodious.
- noneuphoniousNot euphonious.
Opposite of rough
adjectiveNot smooth; uneven.
- smoothHaving a texture that lacks friction. Not rough.
Meaning of rough
- adjective Not smooth; uneven.
- adjective Approximate; hasty or careless; not finished.
- adjective Turbulent.
rough in other languages
Questions about synonyms of rough
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: rough (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Cite this page: “Synonyms of rough.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/rough. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.