1
as in sturdy
able to withstand hardship, strain, or exposure
a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years
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2
as in tough
difficult to endure
the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced
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3
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
the warrior's rugged features frightened the child
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4
as in muscular
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics
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5
as in jagged
not having a level or smooth surface
rugged terrain that made for slow going
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6
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert
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7
as in turbulent
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America
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8
as in crass
lacking in refinement or good taste
the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rugged
Some portion of this expansion can be attributed to strong sales of the rugged, outdoorsy carmaker’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).
—
Brett Berk, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
Much like the past few decades have seen even the average suburban commuter favor larger, more rugged SUVs for daily trips to Trader Joe’s, so too has the average cooler become bigger, beefier, and packed with features.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Severe weather moved in over the weekend, raising concerns about their survival in the rugged area.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2025
Cell phone coverage is extremely patchy in Los Padres National Forest due to its rugged terrain and remoteness.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugged
Brett Berk, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
Much like the past few decades have seen even the average suburban commuter favor larger, more rugged SUVs for daily trips to Trader Joe’s, so too has the average cooler become bigger, beefier, and packed with features.
—Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
Severe weather moved in over the weekend, raising concerns about their survival in the rugged area.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2025
Cell phone coverage is extremely patchy in Los Padres National Forest due to its rugged terrain and remoteness.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rugged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rugged
Adjective
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Fall sowing encourages sturdy plants and earlier blooms, which can be quite beneficial in hot Southern climes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
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The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Red Rocketeers were looking to bounce back after a tough loss against King Phillip, but the opponent was strong.—
Zachary McMahon,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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Lee described the rookies as tough competitors who displayed a championship mentality during their run to the summer league championship.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
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The barbs were frequently aimed at the gruff owner of Mel’s Diner played by the late Vic Tayback.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Strength training can break you out of that state by building muscular support around joints, correcting imbalances and improving overall stability.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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City were also without Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol before the international break, while John Stones withdrew from the England squad due to a muscular injury.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Bowles’s diction is jagged and strange, surprising but seemingly inevitable.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Along the way, road trippers wind their way along the Lake Superior shoreline, where waves crash against jagged cliffs and waterfalls tumble into the great lake.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ncell, Nepal’s second-largest telecommunications service provider, noted that shutting down all platforms at once was, in any case, technically difficult and warned that the move would severely impact business.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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Last summer, after years of hip problems and some difficult surgeries to address them, Jill had an operation that went poorly.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Giant chronicles a turbulent time in the life of famed children’s author Dahl when he was accused of anti-Semitism in the early 1980s.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
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As the biomaterials space navigates a more turbulent landscape marked by tightening budgets, regulatory uncertainty, and investor caution, Biofabricate is adapting its approach.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In most places, private companies can fire employees for any reason — and that includes crass social media posts, said Jeffrey Hirsch, a professor of labor and employment law at the University of North Carolina.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Edwards, along with protesting comrade Tom Hopper (Raife Hastings) and crass CIA contractor Jules Landry (Luke Hemsworth) join a secret CIA unit fighting terrorism in Europe.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rugged. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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