Meaning & use

rugged

adjective·Academic

Having a rough, uneven, or rocky surface, or being tough and sturdy in build or character.

See it in a sentence

The hikers crossed a rugged stretch of trail covered in loose stone and roots.

He has a rugged build well suited to years of outdoor construction work.

A note on using this word

Rugged can describe landscapes, equipment built to withstand hard use, or a person's strong, weathered appearance.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

smoothdelicate

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