Rough vs Awkward - What's the difference?

Rough is a related term of awkward.

As adjectives the difference between rough and awkward

is that rough is having a texture that has much friction not smooth; uneven while awkward is lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.

As adverbs the difference between rough and awkward

is that rough is in a rough manner; rudely; roughly while awkward is (obsolete) in a backwards direction.

As a noun rough

is the unmowed part of a golf course.

As a verb rough

is to create in an approximate form.

rough

English

Alternative forms

* (colloquial) ruff

Adjective

(er)

Having a texture that has much friction. Not smooth; uneven.

* 1922 , (Virginia Woolf), (w, Jacob's Room) Chapter 1

The rock was one of those tremendously solid brown, or rather black, rocks which emerge from the sand like something primitive. Rough with crinkled limpet shells and sparsely strewn with locks of dry seaweed, a small boy has to stretch his legs far apart, and indeed to feel rather heroic, before he gets to the top.

Approximate; hasty or careless; not finished.

a rough''' estimate; a '''rough sketch of a building

Turbulent.

The sea was rough .

Difficult; trying.

Being a teenager nowadays can be rough .

Crude; unrefined

His manners are a bit rough , but he means well.

Violent; not careful or subtle

This box has been through some rough handling.

Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating.

a rough''' tone; a '''rough voice

(Alexander Pope)

Not polished; uncut; said of a gem.

a rough diamond

Harsh-tasting.

rough wine

Antonyms

* smooth

Noun

(en noun)

The unmowed part of a golf course.

A rude fellow; a coarse bully; a rowdy.

(cricket) A scuffed and roughened area of the pitch, where the bowler's feet fall, used as a target by spin bowlers because of its unpredictable bounce.

The raw material from which faceted or cabochon gems are created.

A quick sketch, similar to a thumbnail, but larger and more detailed. Meant for artistic brainstorming and a vital step in the design process.

(obsolete) Boisterous weather.

(Fletcher)

Verb

(en verb)

To create in an approximate form.

Rough in the shape first, then polish the details.

To physically assault someone in retribution.

The gangsters roughed him up a little.

(ice hockey) To commit the offense of roughing, i.e. to punch another player.

To render rough; to roughen.

To break in (a horse, etc.), especially for military purposes.

(Crabb)

Adverb

(en adverb)

In a rough manner; rudely; roughly.

* Sir Walter Scott

Sleeping rough on the trenches, and dying stubbornly in their boats.

Derived terms

* bit of rough * diamond in the rough * rough and ready * roughhouse * rough in * roughness * rough out * rough up

awkward

English

Adverb

(en adverb)

(obsolete) In a backwards direction.

*, Bk.V, Ch.x:

Than groned the knyght for his grymme woundis, and gyrdis to Sir Gawayne and awkewarde hym strykes, and.

Adjective

(en-adj)

Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments

John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.

Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing

That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.

An awkward silence had fallen.

Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction

I'm very awkward at parties.

Things get very awkward whenever 60-year old men use cheesy pick-up lines on me.

Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle

He's a right awkward chap.

These cabinets are going to be very awkward when we move.

Synonyms

* (lacking dexterity) clumsy, ungraceful, unhandy, lubberly * (lacking social skill) maladroit

Antonyms

* (having dexterity) dexterous, graceful, skillful, gainly * (having social skills) cool, amiable

Derived terms

* awkwardly * awkwardness