rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.
a rough wooden board
harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.
a harsh fabric that chafes the skin
uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.
an old house with uneven floors
rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.
a rugged landscape
scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.
a scabrous leaf
Example Sentences
His breathing was shallow and uneven. You should check your car's tires often for signs of uneven wear. an uneven distribution of wealth We have an uneven number of players, so we'll have to rotate.
Recent Examples on the WebThe Tigers were uneven, at best, through two tune-ups against FCS opponent Mercer and Group of 5 opponent San Jose State, avoiding a disastrous upset against the latter in Week 2. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2022 That installment was typically uneven, but the better segments were terrific. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 15 Sep. 2022 And while the monsoon season is progressing well—with cumulative rainfall 6% above the long-term average up to Sep. 13, according to the India Meteorological Department—rainfall distribution has been uneven. Megha Mandavia, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 But this drop has been uneven—the biggest drop has been for the lowest-performing students, which isn’t necessarily surprising because the lowest-performing students were probably less engaged in school. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 Policymakers are under pressure to address rising rents, but the response from Washington has been uneven. Emily Wright, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2022 Praxitella’s texture is uneven, and bright red paint peeks through cracks in its surface. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Aug. 2022 But John Leer, chief economist for Morning Consult, told me the consumer strength is uneven. Christine Romans, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 Supplies of essential goods are uneven, halting most commercial activity.BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of uneven was before the 12th century