1
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rough-hewn
His grandiose designs, with characteristic rough-hewn stones, stalwart towers and arched windows, reintroduced Romanesque features in America and were so often imitated that the style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque.
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Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Nov. 2025
The split-personality rig is a rough-hewn, hard-nosed adventure support vehicle outside and an exceptionally comfortable and livable home-on-a-hitch inside.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Old-Looking Surfaces The house features rough plaster walls and chunky, rough-hewn timber ceiling beams.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rough-hewn
Adjective
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But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.—
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Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.—
Adjective
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Often, the art created out of activism is productive and instructional, rather than crass or shocking, Duarte said.—
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Unable to project solemn grief, conservatives went with spectacle and crass remarks.—
Adjective
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Although the meeting went smoothly and led to concrete commitments, the bonhomie was strained by uncomfortable questions at a news conference about the issue hanging over the day’s diplomacy.—
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Rather than telegraphing trouble in paradise, the move could simply be a styling choice—or a response to high temperatures, which cause one’s hands to swell and can make wearing a ring uncomfortable.—
Adjective
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The Heat’s rough night began with a disastrous start, trailing 36-12 just 10 minutes into the contest.—
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Marty’s face prominently features a scar on his cheekbone and additional scarring under his chin, suggesting a rough life.—
Adjective
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Although the Ripken card launched many conspiracy theories as to whether the inclusion of its vulgar phrase was truly a mistake or a Fleer marketing ploy, there is a long history of errors making it through quality control in sports card production.—
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The joke swap during last year's Christmas episode went to some particularly jaw-dropping places after Che made Jost read a vulgar joke about Johansson.—
Adjective
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Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
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But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Adjective
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People at work have made rude comments pertaining to my hearing.—
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Though Jackson acknowledged that those time crunches can be stressful, being rude isn't the way to go.—
Adjective
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The rise of digital payment systems has made tipping both easier and more awkward, especially when prompts appear at counters, kiosks and drive-thru windows.—
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Use this a couple of times a week for smoother, brighter skin (without getting sunburnt and sand in awkward places).—
Cite this Entry
“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rough-hewn. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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