1
: being in a rough, unsmoothed, or unfinished state : crudely formed
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking refinement
he was rather attractive, in a rough-hewn kind of wayJan Speas

Examples of rough-hewn in a Sentence

a survivalist living in a rough-hewn shelter in the wilderness a rough-hewn kid who had to learn how to behave properly in polite company rough-hewn military cadets feeling a little self-conscious at their first formal dance
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
La Riccia Pinch Decanter La Riccia Pinch Decanter $275 Il Buco Vita There’s a charming rough-hewn and organic quality to Il Buco Vita’s handblown glassware. Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 7 Mar. 2025 Photo : Nolasco Studios The entry steps down into a living room topped with rough-hewn beams. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2025 Welles gets Dylan comparisons all the time owing to his rough-hewn vocal grain, the harmonica propped up around his face like orthodontic headgear, and a young Bob being the average person’s main reference point for wordy folk music with a bent toward social commentary. Jack Denton, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025 In December of 2024, our sister site Deadline reported that the series’ leads — Kelly Reilly, who plays badass Beth Dutton, and Cole Hauser, who is Beth’s husband, rough-hewn Rip Wheeler — had struck deals to reprise their roles in a new spinoff. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rough-hewn

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rough-hewn was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Rough-hewn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hewn. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

rough-hewn

adjective
ˈrəf-ˈhyün
1
: being rough or unfinished
rough-hewn beams
2
: lacking smooth manners or social grace
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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