rugged
Americanadjective
-
having a roughly broken, rocky, hilly, or jagged surface.
rugged ground.
- Antonyms:
- smooth
-
(of a face) wrinkled or furrowed, as by experience or the endurance of hardship.
-
roughly irregular, heavy, or hard in outline or form; craggy.
Lincoln's rugged features.
-
rough, harsh, or stern, as persons or nature.
- Synonyms:
- austere
- Antonyms:
- mild
-
full of hardship and trouble; severe; hard; trying.
a rugged life.
-
tempestuous; stormy.
rugged weather.
- Synonyms:
- turbulent
-
harsh to the ear.
rugged sounds.
- Synonyms:
- cacophonous, grating
-
rude, uncultivated, or unrefined.
- Synonyms:
- crude, unpolished
-
homely or plain.
rugged fare.
-
capable of enduring hardship, wear, etc.; strong and tough.
rugged floor covering; a rugged lumberjack.
- Antonyms:
- frail
adjective
-
having an uneven or jagged surface
-
rocky or steep
rugged scenery
-
(of the face) strong-featured or furrowed
-
rough, severe, or stern in character
-
without refinement or culture; rude
rugged manners
-
involving hardship; harsh
he leads a rugged life in the mountains
-
difficult or hard
a rugged test
-
(of equipment, machines, etc) designed to withstand rough treatment or use in rough conditions
a handheld rugged computer which can survive being submerged in water
-
sturdy or strong; robust
Other Word Forms
- ruggedly adverb
- ruggedness noun
- unrugged adjective
Etymology
Origin of rugged
1300–50; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Swedish rugga to roughen (of cloth); rug
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They are described as “rugged” or “tough;” they sport beards and tattoos.
For hundreds of years, Cornwall writers have drawn on its rugged cliffs, stormy seas and mining history for characters, settings and storylines.
From BBC
I like how rugged their style is, but somehow they make it look really high fashion.
From Los Angeles Times
The resort’s ski patrol initially responded to the injured skier, who was trekking through the rugged and advanced Martis Trail, according to the Sierra Sun, which covers the local community.
From Los Angeles Times
Whether you’re planning a road trip or reading from the comfort of home, get a glimpse of awe-inspiring vistas, rugged wildlife, tales of resilience and more.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
