roughneck 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of roughnecknext
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

roughneck

2 of 2

noun

ˈrəf-ˌnek How to pronounce roughneck (audio)
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang a group of roughnecks like to hang out at the roadhouse and harass people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of roughneck
Adjective
The show seems organically suited for a more action comedy take, given Hooker’s old style and often roughneck crime fighting style, which seemed out of place in a more woke world. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2025 Solomon’s estranged roughneck father (Chris Bauer) hawks macho health supplements and scams Solomon into becoming one of his salesmen. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 June 2025
Noun
Beyond his duties as a host and journalist, the native West Texan spent time working as an oil roughneck himself, and grew up in a family with members in the fields. — William Earl, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025 His job as the titular landman is to secure leases for oil extraction, to manage crews of roughnecks, and to deal with local government and police. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for roughneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughneck
  1. vulgar
  2. thug
  3. crass
  4. gangster
  5. rude
  6. criminal
  7. coarse
  8. villain
Adjective
  • But the school’s dress code prohibits messages that are lewd, indecent, vulgar or profane.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Lonnie is loud, obnoxious, and vulgar in ways that rankle traditional golfers.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
Definition of vulgar
Noun
  • Shortly after his big win, he’s attacked by two thugs in a parking garage.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
  • The night of the title fight, Duke is attacked by two thugs who smash his hand with a hammer and, in the ensuing chaos, kill somebody close to him.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of thug
Adjective
  • To put it in its crassest terms, the story needs to come before the reporter.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a crass and charismatic oil executive who’s called upon to help save the world after his company nearly destroys it.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 July 2026
Definition of crass
Noun
  • This high-security prison is a sprawling complex that houses thousands of detainees, including notorious gangsters, terrorists and prominent white-collar offenders.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The trailer signals a narrative grounded in moral ambiguity and raw human emotion rather than conventional gangster storytelling.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of gangster
Adjective
  • Then off to the highway with you, up a mountain hill, in full control and at one with this rude, loud, hot machine.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Maybe your child or grandchild posted a rude comment in a group chat.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rude
Noun
  • North Carolina politician says Democrats are coddling criminals Records also list a September 2025 simple-assault charge and a March 2025 charge of assault on a female.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Even if Anna Pigeon carries a gun with cuffs, as real-life law enforcement rangers do, there's much more to the job and character than chasing down criminals.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Each one functions like a coarse grain of sand, eroding the certainties and stereotypes that harden racial discourse.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Below the top line, the picture is coarse, assembled on demand and trusted by few.
    — Udam Dewaraja, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of coarse
Noun
  • The second is the idea that this is where Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch returns to the MCU after being seemingly killed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where she had been turned into a full villain.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But because Detroit chose the offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Skubal has unwittingly become a villain around the league.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of villain

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roughly
roughneck
roughnecks
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Cite this Entry

“Roughneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughneck. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of roughneck for Spanish Speakers

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