as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
their roughneck antics were amusing only if you were as drunk as they were
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of roughneck
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2024
Trey Smoak’s roughneck monitor lizard was out of his sight for about 10 minutes Friday when the Crowley resident went to put up groceries.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2024
Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Aussie roughnecks and their families arrived en masse, bringing beer, pies, and music.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for roughneck
Adjective
That sequence feels like it might have been made by one of those roughneck filmmakers in the early days of Hollywood, just hauling a lot of equipment and stuntmen out to the desert and risking their lives to make some crazed, truly dangerous action set piece.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2024
Trey Smoak’s roughneck monitor lizard was out of his sight for about 10 minutes Friday when the Crowley resident went to put up groceries.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2024
Noun
Premiere date: November 17 Where to stream Landman: Paramount+
Synopsis: From Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan, Landman is based in the heart of Texas and follows roughnecks and billionaires trying to get rich quickly in the oil industry.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Aussie roughnecks and their families arrived en masse, bringing beer, pies, and music.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for roughneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roughneck
Adjective
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There is a ring on my finger that, to quote Rhett Butler, is the biggest and most vulgar ring in Atlanta (Maine), and a six-course, all-cheese dinner is awaiting us afterward.—
Christine Murphy,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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This goes double for vulgar and hateful content, which is a growing problem across social media.—
Ella Cerón,
Parents,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Jewish people in the U.S. have adopted a position of ‘support Netanyahu and his thugs irrespective of the political cost’ approach.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
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The thug in the seat next to him had 14 prior arrests and went by the name of killer.—
NPR,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump teaches this crass behavior to his MAGA minions so that many Americans can no longer distinguish true from false, right from wrong, justice from injustice.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
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There’s not really any sort of crude, crass direction.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Peaky Blinders is led by Shelby — played by Cillian Murphy, who is, of course, returning — a war hero turned gangster who runs 1900s Birmingham.—
Lexi Carson,
The Hollywood Reporter,
9 Mar. 2025
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But, from the look of things in the two-and-a-half-minute clip — which reveals that Hampton owes a debt to a group of local gangsters, among other zany roadblocks — this comeback won’t be a cakewalk.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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At the time, Pearce called out a rude fan while performing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
Fox News,
7 Mar. 2025
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Anti-Tesla sentiment is at an all-time high, whether expressed through rude bumper stickers and peaceful protest or vandalism and arson, in part because Musk has continually stoked tension with his far-right politics.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Only criminal hacking is a crime, and not all hackers are criminals.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Officers says there are many reasons people use fake plates: criminals hoping to avoid being tracked by law enforcement, evading fines on toll roads, or people trying to find a way to drive without a driver’s license or insurance.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The measures included a ban on seaborne Russian crude oil exports and a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian oil.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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Suncor operates the only refinery in Colorado, processing about 98,000 barrels of crude oil per day.—
Noelle Phillips,
The Denver Post,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The real villains, says Mozaffarian, are excessive amounts of refined grains, starches, and sugars, as well as salt and other preservatives, chemical additives, and contaminants from packaging.—
Sarah Boden,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
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In the comics, Sinestro starts off as a member of the Green Lantern Corp, eventually becoming a villain and starting his own Sinestro Corp.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roughneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roughneck. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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