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: unpolished, crude

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

Derived Forms

• ˈruggedly, adverb
• ˈruggedness, noun

Other Words From

• rugged·ly adverb
• rugged·ness noun
• un·rugged 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

Born and bred in Zaun with a long criminal background, Vi is as rugged and misanthropic as Caitlyn is sleek and chic.

From Salon

“The fire continues to creep and smolder in steep rugged terrain. Threats remain to critical infrastructure, highways and communities,” according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire.

From Salon

The blaze caused its greatest devastation on Wednesday, when the powerful winds prevented aircraft from dropping fire-retardent chemicals as firefighters struggled to combat the flames on rugged steep ground amid periodic shortages of water.

From Los Angeles Times

Within hours, the blaze had jumped over the 118 Freeway from the rugged Santa Susana Mountains and was tearing across neighborhoods in the hills above Camarillo.

From Los Angeles Times

Canadian food writer Marta Zaraska argues in her 2021 book "Meathooked" that beef became a key part of the American origin myth of rugged individualism that was emerging at this time.

From Salon

Related Words

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