Ask Difference

Hard vs. Rough — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
Hard refers to firmness and resistance to pressure; rough describes a coarse or uneven surface texture.
Hard vs. Rough — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hard and Rough

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Key Differences

Hardness denotes resistance to indentation, deformation, or penetration. It is a measure of durability and firmness. A hard substance, like diamond, withstands scratches or cuts from softer materials. In contrast, roughness refers to the irregularities and abrasiveness of a surface. A rough surface, like sandpaper, is uneven and may be gritty to the touch.
In metaphorical terms, "hard" suggests difficulty or resilience, such as a hard problem or a hardy plant. It implies a challenge to overcome or an inherent strength. "Rough," metaphorically, can describe a difficult experience or an approximation, like going through a rough patch or giving a rough estimate, indicating a lack of precision or refinement.
In describing materials, "hard" relates to structural integrity. Hardwood, for instance, can resist wear and maintain shape over time. "Rough," however, characterizes the tactile quality. Rough fabric, for example, might be uncomfortable against the skin due to its texture, not its hardness.
When assessing workability, hard materials require more force or specialized tools to manipulate. Carving hard stone is labor-intensive. Rough textures, on the other hand, might be desired for certain functions, like grip or friction, and can be achieved or reduced through processing, like sanding wood to smooth roughness.
"Hard" can also imply permanence or inalterability, as in hard-baked clay. It suggests a state that is not easily changed. "Rough," however, often implies a temporary or unfinished state. A rough draft is expected to be refined and smoothed out in subsequent versions.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Resistant to pressure or wear.
Having an uneven or irregular surface.

Sensory Perception

Felt as solid or firm.
Felt as coarse or abrasive.

Material Characteristic

Structural integrity and strength.
Textural finish and feel.

Metaphorical Use

Describes challenges or resilience.
Describes difficulty or lack of detail.

Workability

May require more force to manipulate.
May require smoothing or can provide grip.

Compare with Definitions

Hard

Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
The slate broke on the hard floor
Rub the varnish down when it's hard

Rough

Having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level
Her skin felt dry and rough
They had to carry the victim across the rough, stony ground

Hard

Resistant to pressure or deformation.
Diamonds are hard enough to scratch glass.

Rough

Approximate or not fully worked out.
His rough estimate was off by several hundred dollars.

Hard

Difficult to endure or accomplish.
The math test was incredibly hard.

Rough

Lacking refinement or sophistication.
His rough manners were noticeable at the formal dinner.

Hard

Requiring a great deal of effort or strength.
They worked hard to complete the project on time.

Rough

(of a person or their behaviour) not gentle; violent or boisterous
Pushchairs should be capable of withstanding rough treatment

Hard

Not easily moved or emotionally affected.
She remained hard-hearted despite the pleas.

Rough

Not finished tidily or decoratively; plain and basic
The customers sat at rough wooden tables

Hard

Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack

Rough

(of a voice) harsh and rasping
His voice was rough with barely suppressed fury

Hard

Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort
Airship-flying was pretty hard work
She found it hard to believe that he could be involved
It's hard for drummers these days

Rough

Not exact or precise; approximate
It'll cost about £50, at a rough guess
They had a rough idea of when the murder took place

Hard

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

Rough

Difficult and unpleasant or unfair
The first day of a job is rough on everyone
The teachers gave me a rough time because my image didn't fit

Hard

Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.

Rough

In a manner that lacks gentleness; harshly or violently
Treat 'em rough but treat 'em fair

Hard

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult
Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

Rough

A disreputable and violent person
The rear of the column was attacked by roughs

Hard

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.

Rough

(on a golf course) longer grass around the fairway and the green
His second shot lay in the rough

Hard

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

Rough

A preliminary sketch
I did a rough to work out the scale of the lettering

Hard

With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school

Rough

An uncut precious stone
Miners discovered one of the biggest diamond roughs in history

Hard

So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard

Rough

Work or shape (something) in a rough, preliminary fashion
Flat surfaces of wood are roughed down

Hard

To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard

Rough

Make uneven
Rough up the icing with a palette knife

Hard

A road leading down across a foreshore.

Rough

Live in discomfort with only basic necessities
She'd had to rough it alone in digs

Hard

Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.

Rough

Having a surface marked by irregularities, protuberances, or ridges; not smooth
Planed the board so it was no longer rough.

Hard

Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.

Rough

Coarse or shaggy to the touch
A rough scratchy blanket.

Hard

Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.

Rough

Difficult to travel over or through
The rough terrain of the highlands.

Hard

Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.

Rough

Characterized by violent motion; turbulent
Rough waters.

Hard

Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.

Rough

Difficult to endure or live through, especially because of harsh or inclement weather
A rough winter.

Hard

Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.

Rough

Unpleasant or difficult
Had a rough time during the exam.

Hard

Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.

Rough

Characterized by or done with violence or forcefulness
A sport noted for rough play.
A package that received rough handling.

Hard

Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.

Rough

Boisterous, disorderly, or given to violence
Ran with a rough crowd.

Hard

Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.

Rough

Characterized by violence or crime
Lives in a rough neighborhood.

Hard

Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.

Rough

Lacking polish or finesse
Rough manners.

Hard

Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.

Rough

Harsh to the ear
A rough raspy sound.

Hard

Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.

Rough

Being in a natural state
Rough diamonds.

Hard

Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.

Rough

Not perfected, completed, or fully detailed
A rough drawing.
Rough carpentry.

Hard

Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.

Rough

The surface or part of something that is uneven or coarse
Felt the rough of his chin.

Hard

Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.

Rough

Rugged overgrown terrain.

Hard

Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.

Rough

(Sports) The area of a golf hole in which the grass is left unmowed or is cut to a length longer than that of the fairway.

Hard

Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.

Rough

A disorderly, unrefined, or unfinished state.

Hard

Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.

Rough

A difficult or disagreeable aspect or condition of something
Observed politics in the rough when working as an intern on Capitol Hill.

Hard

Bad; adverse
Hard luck.

Rough

A person given to violent or disorderly behavior; a rowdy.

Hard

Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.

Rough

To treat roughly or with physical violence
Roughed up his opponent.

Hard

Definite; firm
A hard commitment.

Rough

(Sports) To treat (an opposing player) with unnecessary roughness, often in violation of the rules
Was ejected from the game for roughing the passer.

Hard

Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.

Rough

To prepare or indicate in an unfinished form
Rough out a house plan.

Hard

Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.

Rough

In a rough manner; roughly
The engine began to run rough and faltered.

Hard

Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.

Rough

Not smooth; uneven.

Hard

Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.

Rough

Approximate; hasty or careless; not finished.
A rough estimate
A rough sketch of a building
A rough plan

Hard

Hardcore.

Rough

Turbulent.
Rough sea

Hard

Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.

Rough

Difficult; trying.
Being a teenager nowadays can be rough.

Hard

Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.

Rough

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

Hard

Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.

Rough

Worn; shabby; weather-beaten.

Hard

High and stable. Used of prices.

Rough

Violent; not careful or subtle.
This box has been through some rough handling.

Hard

Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.

Rough

Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating.
A rough tone
A rough voice

Hard

Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.

Rough

(of a gem) Not polished; uncut.
A rough diamond

Hard

Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.

Rough

Harsh-tasting.
Rough wine

Hard

Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.

Rough

Somewhat ill; sick; in poor condition.

Hard

Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.

Rough

Unwell due to alcohol; hungover.

Hard

Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.

Rough

The unmowed part of a golf course.

Hard

(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.

Rough

A rude fellow; a coarse bully; a rowdy.

Hard

(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.

Rough

(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.

Hard

High in gluten content
Hard wheat.

Rough

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

Hard

(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.

Rough

A quick sketch, similar to a thumbnail but larger and more detailed, used for artistic brainstorming.

Hard

Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.

Rough

(obsolete) Boisterous weather.

Hard

With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.

Rough

A piece inserted in a horseshoe to keep the animal from slipping.

Hard

With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.

Rough

To create in an approximate form.
Rough in the shape first, then polish the details.

Hard

In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.

Rough

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

Hard

With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.

Rough

To render rough; to roughen.

Hard

Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.

Rough

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

Hard

Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.

Rough

To endure primitive conditions.
To rough it

Hard

Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.

Rough

(transitive) To roughen a horse's shoes to keep the animal from slipping.

Hard

(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.

Rough

In a rough manner; rudely; roughly.

Hard

(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Rough

Having inequalities, small ridges, or points, on the surface; not smooth or plain; as, a rough board; a rough stone; rough cloth.

Hard

Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.

Rough

Not polished; uncut; - said of a gem; as, a rough diamond.
More unequal than the roughest sea.

Hard

(of drink or drugs) Strong.

Rough

Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish.
A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough.
A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds.

Hard

(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda

Rough

Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; - said of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat.

Hard

(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.

Rough

Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as, rough measures or actions.
On the rough edge of battle.
A quicker and rougher remedy.
Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces.

Hard

Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).

Rough

Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; - said of sound, voice, and the like; as, a rough tone; rough numbers.

Hard

Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays

Rough

Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine.
He stayeth his rough wind.
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

Hard

Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.

Rough

Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as, a rough estimate; a rough draught.

Hard

(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Rough

Produced offhand.

Hard

Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic

Rough

Boisterous weather.

Hard

Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life

Rough

A rude fellow; a coarse bully; a rowdy.
Contemplating the people in the rough.

Hard

Severe, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
A hard master;
A hard heart;
Hard words;
A hard character
The senator asked the party chief to put the hard word on his potential rivals.

Rough

In a rough manner; rudely; roughly.
Sleeping rough on the trenches, and dying stubbornly in their boats.

Hard

(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.

Rough

To render rough; to roughen.

Hard

(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site

Rough

To break in, as a horse, especially for military purposes.

Hard

(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.

Rough

To cut or make in a hasty, rough manner; - with out; as, to rough out a carving, a sketch.

Hard

Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement

Rough

The part of a golf course bordering the fairway where the grass is not cut short

Hard

(of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.

Rough

Prepare in preliminary or sketchy form

Hard

Sexually aroused; having an erect penis.
I got so hard watching two hot girls wrestle each other on the beach.

Rough

Having or caused by an irregular surface;
Trees with rough bark
Rough ground
A rough ride
Rough skin
Rough blankets
His unsmooth face
Unsmooth writing

Hard

(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.

Rough

(of persons or behavior) lacking refinement or finesse;
She was a diamond in the rough
Rough manners

Hard

Fortis.

Rough

Not quite exact or correct;
The approximate time was 10 o'clock
A rough guess
A ballpark estimate

Hard

Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".

Rough

Full of hardship or trials;
The rocky road to success
They were having a rough time

Hard

Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.

Rough

Violently agitated and turbulent;
Boisterous winds and waves
The fierce thunders roar me their music
Rough weather
Rough seas

Hard

(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.

Rough

Unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound;
A gravelly voice

Hard

(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.

Rough

Ready and able to resort to force or violence;
Pugnacious spirits...lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance
They were rough and determined fighting men

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Rough

Of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped

Hard

Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.

Rough

Not shaped by cutting or trimming;
An uncut diamond
Rough gemstones

Hard

(uncomparable)

Rough

Not carefully or expertly made;
Managed to make a crude splint
A crude cabin of logs with bark still on them
Rough carpentry

Hard

In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive

Rough

Not perfected;
A rough draft
A few rough sketches

Hard

Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset

Rough

Unpleasantly stern;
Wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus
The nomad life is rough and hazardous

Hard

(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left

Rough

With roughness or violence (`rough' is an informal variant for `roughly');
He was pushed roughly aside
They treated him rough

Hard

Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.

Rough

With rough motion as over a rough surface;
Ride rough

Hard

(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.

Rough

Having an uneven or irregular surface.
The rough texture of the stone made it slip-resistant.

Hard

(manner) With much force or effort.
He hit the puck hard up the ice.
They worked hard all week.
At the intersection, bear hard left.
The recession hit them especially hard.
Think hard about your choices.
The couple were fucking each other hard.

Rough

Not gentle or smooth in action or behavior.
The sea was rough, tossing the boat violently.

Hard

(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.

Rough

Harsh or severe in nature.
The wilderness survival training was rough.

Hard

(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.

Hard

Near, close.

Hard

A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.

Hard

A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.

Hard

Crack cocaine.

Hard

Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.

Hard

Not easily penetrated, cut, or separated into parts; not yielding to pressure; firm; solid; compact; - applied to material bodies, and opposed to soft; as, hard wood; hard flesh; a hard apple.

Hard

Difficult, mentally or judicially; not easily apprehended, decided, or resolved; as a hard problem.
The hard causes they brought unto Moses.
In which are some things hard to be understood.

Hard

Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.

Hard

Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.

Hard

Difficult to bear or endure; not easy to put up with or consent to; hence, severe; rigorous; oppressive; distressing; unjust; grasping; as, a hard lot; hard times; hard fare; a hard winter; hard conditions or terms.
I never could drive a hard bargain.

Hard

Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.

Hard

Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.

Hard

Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.

Hard

Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated, or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to another; - said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.

Hard

Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Hard

With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.

Hard

With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.

Hard

Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.

Hard

So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

With tension or strain of the powers; violently; with force; tempestuously; vehemently; vigorously; energetically; as, to press, to blow, to rain hard; hence, rapidly; nimbly; as, to run hard.

Hard

Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Hard

To harden; to make hard.

Hard

A ford or passage across a river or swamp.

Hard

Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?

Hard

Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb

Hard

Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock

Hard

Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow

Hard

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace

Hard

Of speech sounds

Hard

Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker

Hard

Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider

Hard

Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor

Hard

Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break

Hard

Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before

Hard

With effort or force or vigor;
The team played hard
Worked hard all day
Pressed hard on the lever
Hit the ball hard
Slammed the door hard

Hard

With firmness;
Held hard to the railing

Hard

Earnestly or intently;
Thought hard about it
Stared hard at the accused

Hard

Causing great damage or hardship;
Industries hit hard by the depression
She was severely affected by the bank's failure

Hard

Slowly and with difficulty;
Prejudices die hard

Hard

Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily

Hard

Into a solid condition;
Concrete that sets hard within a few hours

Hard

Very near or close in space or time;
It stands hard by the railroad tracks
They were hard on his heels
A strike followed hard upon the plant's opening

Hard

With pain or distress or bitterness;
He took the rejection very hard

Hard

To the full extent possible; all the way;
Hard alee
The ship went hard astern
Swung the wheel hard left

Hard

Firmly formed and solid.
The frozen ground was too hard to dig through.

Common Curiosities

What does "hard" mean in a physical sense?

Physically, "hard" means solid and resistant to pressure or wear.

Is "hard" always associated with solid materials?

Mostly, but it can also refer to abstract concepts like "hard times."

Is "hard" used to describe difficulties?

Yes, "hard" often denotes something that is challenging.

How does "hard" relate to work or effort?

It can mean requiring a lot of effort, as in "hard work."

What does "rough" mean in terms of texture?

"Rough" describes a surface that is uneven or coarse to the touch.

Does "rough" indicate a level of sophistication?

It can imply a lack of sophistication or polish.

Can "hard" refer to a state of being well-established?

Yes, as in "hard facts," meaning well-established facts.

How does "rough" apply to estimates or plans?

It can imply something is approximate or not fully detailed.

Can weather be described as "hard"?

Not typically; "harsh" would be more appropriate than "hard."

Can "rough" refer to a manner of behavior?

Yes, it can describe behavior that is harsh or lacks gentleness.

Can "hard" also describe a person's character?

Yes, it can describe someone as unyielding or resilient.

Is "rough" used in a metaphorical sense?

Yes, such as in "rough day," meaning a challenging day.

Can "rough" describe the early stage of a process?

Yes, such as in "rough draft," meaning an early, unrefined version.

Are "hard" and "rough" interchangeable?

No, they describe different attributes: firmness versus texture.

Can "hard" describe a substance's durability?

Yes, durable materials are often described as hard.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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