1
: being in a rough, unsmoothed, or unfinished state : crudely formed
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking refinement
he was rather attractive, in a rough-hewn kind of wayJan Speas

Examples of rough-hewn in a Sentence

a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By my front door there is a rough-hewn statue of St. Francis made from a tree stump. Judy Knotts, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 The Belgian master of minimalism and wabi-sabi forever changed the design of sofas, and his way with rough-hewn wood furniture and beams, pale linen, an earthy palette, and a masterful blending of East and West and antique and contemporary are now canonized among professionals. Amy Astley, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025 Rodney Atkins kicks off the 52nd CMA Fest's final evening Knoxville native Rodney Atkins' rough-hewn country vocal performances kicked off the final evening of the 52nd CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium. Bryan West, The Tennessean, 30 May 2025 When doused with water, the leather shrank, and the feathers expanded, and this rough-hewn ball would have flown well for the day, enabling golfers to make truer shots. Miles Corwin, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-hewn was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hewn. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rough-hewn

adjective
ˈrəf-ˈhyün
1
: being rough or unfinished
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking smooth manners or social grace
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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