rugged

[ruhg-id]

adjective

1. having a roughly broken, rocky, hilly, or jagged surface.

   rugged ground.

   Synonyms: craggy, irregular, uneven
   Antonyms: smooth

2. (of a face) wrinkled or furrowed, as by experience or the endurance of hardship.

3. roughly irregular, heavy, or hard in outline or form; craggy.

   Lincoln's rugged features.

4. rough, harsh, or stern, as persons or nature.

   Synonyms: austere
   Antonyms: mild

5. full of hardship and trouble; severe; hard; trying.

   a rugged life.

6. tempestuous; stormy.

   rugged weather.

   Synonyms: turbulent

7. harsh to the ear.

   rugged sounds.

   Synonyms: cacophonous, grating

8. rude, uncultivated, or unrefined.

   Synonyms: crude, unpolished

9. homely or plain.

   rugged fare.

10. capable of enduring hardship, wear, etc.; strong and tough.

    rugged floor covering; a rugged lumberjack.

    Antonyms: frail

rugged

/ ˈrʌɡɪd /

adjective

1. having an uneven or jagged surface

2. rocky or steep

   rugged scenery

3. (of the face) strong-featured or furrowed

4. rough, severe, or stern in character

5. without refinement or culture; rude

   rugged manners

6. involving hardship; harsh

   he leads a rugged life in the mountains

7. difficult or hard

   a rugged test

8. (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

9. sturdy or strong; robust

Other Word Forms

• ruggedly adverb
• ruggedness noun
• unrugged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rugged¹

1300–50; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Swedish rugga to roughen (of cloth); rug

Word History and Origins

Origin of rugged¹

C14: from Scandinavian; compare Swedish rugga to make rough

Example Sentences

The worst damage was in Kunar - a rugged, mountainous region with limited farmland.

From BBC

The blaze has not grown in several days, but Cal Fire reported Thursday that “large fuels continue to smolder within the fire perimeter as firefighters work to construct control lines within steep, rugged terrain.”

From Los Angeles Times

We were taken along a rugged mountain path in one of these zones.

From BBC

Using his rugged vocal delivery, Montana peppers his lyrics with amusing vulgarities.

From Los Angeles Times

The fabric has long been shorthand for rugged individualism and the everyday workwear mythos of the American frontier — in other words, a different, portable performance of Americana.

From Salon

Related Words

• craggy 
• hilly 
• jagged 
• mountainous 
• rocky 
• rough