coarse

[ kawrs, kohrs ]

See synonyms for: coarse coarsely coarseness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,coars·er, coars·est.

composed of relatively large parts or particles: The beach had rough, coarse sand.
lacking in fineness or delicacy of texture, structure, etc.: The stiff, coarse fabric irritated her skin.

harsh; grating.
lacking delicacy, taste, or refinement; unpolished: He had coarse manners but an absolutely first-rate mind.
of inferior or faulty quality; common; base.
vulgar; obscene; crude: His coarse language angered us.
(of metals) unrefined.
(of a metal file) having the maximum commercial grade of coarseness.

Origin of coarse

First recorded in 1550–60; earlier cors(e), course, cowarce; of obscure origin

Other words for coarse

2, 4	crude, rude, rough
4	vulgar, gross, crass
6	indelicate

See synonyms for coarse on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for coarse

4	refined, sensitive

See antonyms for coarse on Thesaurus.com

Other words from coarse

coarsely, adverb
coarseness, noun
un·coarse, adjective
un·coarse·ly, adverb
un·coarse·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with coarse

coarse , course, curse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use coarse in a sentence

Put the rice cereal in a resealable plastic bag, squeeze out excess air and, using a rolling pin or mallet, crush until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Pop open a box of cereal for a crunchy twist on baked chicken tenders | Ellie Krieger | February 18, 2021 | Washington Post
A full head of coarse strands can take over an hour to dry, and we’re betting that doesn’t sound ideal for your regular routine.
The best hair dryer: Get a salon-worthy blowout at home | Carsen Joenk | January 22, 2021 | Popular-Science
A team including Grover, Etienne and another college student, Tarana Laroia, measured how much coarse, curly hair might interfere with measuring brain signals.
Brainwaves of people with coarse, curly hair are now less hard to read | Laura Sanders | May 5, 2020 | Science News For Students

British Dictionary definitions for coarse

coarse

/ (kɔːs) /

adjective

rough in texture, structure, etc; not fine: coarse sand
lacking refinement or taste; indelicate; vulgar: coarse jokes

of inferior quality; not pure or choice
(of a metal) not refined
(of a screw) having widely spaced threads

Origin of coarse

C14: of unknown origin

Derived forms of coarse

coarsely, adverb
coarseness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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