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Definition of rugged : 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.
2. Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; - said of temper, character, and the like, or of persons.
3. Not neat or regular; uneven.
4. Rough to the ear; harsh; grating; - said of sound, style, and the like.
5. Rough with bristles or hair; shaggy.
6. Sour; surly; frowning; wrinkled; - said of looks, etc.
7. Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude.
8. Vigorous; robust; hardy; - said of health, physique, etc.
9. Violent; rude; boisterrous; - said of conduct, manners, etc.

Synonyms:

wiped out, humiliated, calm, humbled, hard-handed, raging, impoverished, clifflike, toughened, ugly, mountainous, tempestuous, craggy, knockabout, violent, roiled, cragged, hard-bitten, cliffy, crushed, dirty, continue, broken in, unkept, ruffianly, scabrous, hale, elusive, heavy, furrowed, uneven, roily, bad, smooth, turbulent, healthy, hardy, tumultuous, sturdy, rough-and-tumble, unsmooth, hilly, ironbound, baffling, upset, problematic, low, wild, problematical, action, disordered, confused, broken, stormy, busted, strong

formidable, thorny, cumbersome, contrary, strenuous, arduous, knotty, demanding, harsh, oppressive, uphill, ticklish, tricky, finicky, hard, fussy, troublesome, difficult, wearing, tough, stressful, wearying, complicated, complex, cantankerous, tight, severe, burdensome, wearisome, grinding, adverse, toilsome, laborious, rough, onerous, trying, bothersome

knurled, sinewy, bristly, ragged, ruffled, gnarled, stubbled, jagged, scuffed, rumpled, scratchy, coarse

Usage examples:

• Robert naturally wished him to be a farmer, but permitted him to study when he proved not very rugged at first. - "William Bradford of Plymouth", Albert Hale Plumb.
• Was it possible that the grey- eyed man of the rugged face, the man who had called himself Lady Cicely's cousin, could be driving that way again? - "Christina", L. G. Moberly.
• How it was accomplished, Margaret never knew, but, after a breathless moment, she found herself seated on the branch, too, clinging fast to the rugged bark, and not daring to look below. - "Fernley House", Laura E. Richards.