2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rugged  \Rug"ged\,  a.  [See  {Rug},  n.] 
  1.  Full  of  asperities  on  the  surface;  broken  into  sharp  or 
  irregular  points,  or  otherwise  uneven;  not  smooth;  rough; 
  as  a  rugged  mountain;  a  rugged  road. 
 
  The  rugged  bark  of  some  broad  elm.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Not  neat  or  regular;  uneven. 
 
  His  well-proportioned  beard  made  rough  and  rugged. 
  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Rough  with  bristles  or  hair;  shaggy.  ``The  rugged  Russian 
  bear.''  --Shak. 
 
  4.  Harsh;  hard;  crabbed;  austere;  --  said  of  temper, 
  character,  and  the  like  or  of  persons. 
 
  Neither  melt  nor  endear  him  but  leave  him  as  hard, 
  rugged,  and  unconcerned  as  ever.  --South. 
 
  5.  Stormy;  turbulent;  tempestuous;  rude.  --Milton. 
 
  6.  Rough  to  the  ear;  harsh;  grating;  --  said  of  sound,  style, 
  and  the  like 
 
  Through  the  harsh  cadence  of  a  rugged  line 
  --Dryden. 
 
  7.  Sour;  surly;  frowning;  wrinkled;  --  said  of  looks  etc 
  ``Sleek  o'er  your  rugged  looks.''  --Shak. 
 
  8.  Violent;  rude;  boisterrous;  --  said  of  conduct,  manners, 
  etc 
 
  9.  Vigorous;  robust;  hardy;  --  said  of  health,  physique,  etc 
  [Colloq.  U.S.] 
 
  Syn:  Rough;  uneven;  wrinkled;  cragged;  coarse;  rude;  harsh; 
  hard;  crabbed;  severe;  austere;  surly;  sour;  frowning; 
  violent;  boisterous;  tumultuous;  turbulent;  stormy; 
  tempestuous;  inclement.  --  {Rug"ged*ly},  adv  -- 
  {Rug"ged*ness},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  rugged 
  adj  1:  sturdy  and  strong  in  constitution  or  construction;  enduring; 
  "a  rugged  trapper  who  spent  months  in  the  winderness"; 
  "those  that  survive  are  stalwart  rugged  men";  "with  a 
  house  full  of  boys  you  have  to  have  rugged  furniture" 
  [ant:  {delicate}] 
  2:  topographically  very  uneven;  "broken  terrain";  "rugged 
  ground"  [syn:  {broken}] 
  3:  rocky  and  steep  [syn:  {craggy}] 
  4:  very  difficult;  severely  testing  stamina  or  resolution;  "a 
  rugged  competitive  examination";  "the  rugged  conditions  of 
  frontier  life";  "the  competition  was  tough";  "it's  a  tough 
  life";  "it  was  a  tough  job"  [syn:  {tough}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z