rugged

adjective

ˈrə-gəd How to pronounce rugged (audio)
Definition of ruggednext
1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years

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2
as in tough
difficult to endure the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced

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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance the warrior's rugged features frightened the child

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4
as in muscular
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics

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5
as in jagged
not having a level or smooth surface rugged terrain that made for slow going

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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert

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7
as in turbulent
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America

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8
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rugged contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rugged are harsh, rough, scabrous, and uneven. While all these words mean "not smooth or even," rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

When would harsh be a good substitute for rugged?

The meanings of harsh and rugged largely overlap; however, harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

When might rough be a better fit than rugged?

The words rough and rugged are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

When can scabrous be used instead of rugged?

The synonyms scabrous and rugged are sometimes interchangeable, but scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

When is it sensible to use uneven instead of rugged?

While the synonyms uneven and rugged are close in meaning, uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rugged This will create a cascading effect that adds movement to the overall design and softens the stone’s rugged edges. — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025 Birkenstock Kalahari Sandal These rugged Kalahari sandals are built for adventure. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2025 Average or above skaters who can make plays and contribute to the rugged side of the game. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 This ceramic vase has a rugged, natural matte texture and measures 14.4 inches high, so it’s bound to be a statement piece on your table, mantle, etc. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
  1. sturdy
  2. tough
  3. gruff
  4. muscular
  5. jagged
  6. difficult
  7. turbulent
  8. crass
Adjective
  • It’s entirely made of cotton that has been coated with polyvinyl to create a sturdy material with the look of pebbled leather, which is as water-resistant and stain-repellent as hide.
    — Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • On the other side, the Grizzlies had an even tougher time with Curry, who finished with 52 points on 16-of-31 shooting.
    — Anthony Slater, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.
    — Jessica Wang, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.
    — James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • And the Nazis reinvented Jesus as a muscular Aryan hero who fought Jews.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
  • However, shortly after scoring her side’s third goal of the match, she was substituted with the muscular problem.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of muscular
Adjective
  • Boulders offer a jagged look For a rugged look, consider a retaining wall made from large boulders.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
  • All those letters are real, and all those jagged lines were the work of scissors.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of jagged
Adjective
  • The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The task for Denver tonight will be that much more difficult if Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) is unavailable or limited.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Interesting, turbulent life (including 22 years in prison).
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Overanalyzing every win and loss will make your journey feel more turbulent than necessary.
    — Nelson Chu, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Those other countries don’t seem to have the same proportion of crass blowhards in their political structure as the U.S.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Slipshod, crass, and sick, these jokes, dialling in from abroad and at home, were distinct from the humor that had followed other U.S. catastrophes.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of crass

Browse Nearby Words

rug
rugged
ruggedness
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Cite this Entry

“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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