rugged

Adjective
US[ruhg-uhd]/ˈrʌɡəd/2 syllables

Open English WordNet

Adjective (4)

  1. sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring“with a house full of boys you have to have rugged furniture”Opposite delicateSimilar sturdy, knockaboutRelates to strengthSee also robust, strong, tough
  2. having long narrow shallow depressions (as grooves or wrinkles) in the surface“furrowed fields”“his furrowed face lit by a warming smile”Synonyms: furrowedSimilar rutted, corrugated, canaliculateSee also wrinkled, wrinkly
  3. topographically very uneven“broken terrain”“rugged ground”Synonyms: brokenOpposite smoothSimilar rough, unsmooth
  4. very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution“a rugged competitive examination”“the rugged conditions of frontier life”“the competition was tough”“it's a tough life”“it was a tough job”Synonyms: toughOpposite easySimilar difficult, hard
Word of the day · Sep 29About this word
haphazardadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Rug′ged adjective

Origin: See Rug, noun

1. Full of asperities on the surface; broken into sharp or irregular points, or otherwise uneven; not smooth; rough; as, a rugged mountain; a rugged road.

The rugged bark of some broad elm.— John Milton

2. Not neat or regular; uneven.

His well-proportioned beard made rough and rugged.— William Shakespeare

3. Rough with bristles or hair; shaggy. “The rugged Russian bear.” William Shakespeare

4. Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; — said of temper, character, and the like, or of persons.

Neither melt nor endear him, but leave him as hard, rugged, and unconcerned as ever.— Robert South

5. Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude. John Milton

6. Rough to the ear; harsh; grating; — said of sound, style, and the like.

Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.— John Dryden

7. Sour; surly; frowning; wrinkled; — said of looks, etc. “Sleek o'er your rugged looks.” William Shakespeare

8. Violent; rude; boisterrous; — said of conduct, manners, etc.

9. Vigorous; robust; hardy; — said of health, physique, etc. Colloq. U.S.

Synonyms: Rough; uneven; wrinkled; cragged; coarse; rude; harsh; hard; crabbed; severe; austere; surly; sour; frowning; violent; boisterous; tumultuous; turbulent; stormy; tempestuous; inclement.

— Rug′wb-a1′>′ged·ly (#), adverb — Rug′wb-a1′>′ged·ness, noun

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

Advertisement