rough-hew

verb

rough-hewed; rough-hewn ˈrəf-ˈhyün How to pronounce rough-hew (audio) ; rough-hewing

transitive verb

1
: to hew (something, such as timber) coarsely without smoothing or finishing
2
: to form crudely

Examples of rough-hew in a Sentence

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.
Honeyed yet rough-hewed, deep and daring, Kara Jackson has the voice of someone who’s lived a lot of life. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near rough-hew

Cite this Entry

“Rough-hew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rough-hew. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!