coarseness

/ˈkɔːsnəs/
nounIntermediate
formal

The quality of being rough, harsh, or lacking refinement; a lack of smoothness, politeness, or sophistication.

The coarseness of the fabric made it uncomfortable to wear.

The rough texture of the material made it unpleasant to touch.

His speech was criticized for its coarseness and lack of tact.

His words were condemned for being rude and insensitive.

💡

The term can describe physical roughness (e.g., texture) or social behavior (e.g., rudeness).

Collocations

coarseness of textureroughness of surfacecoarseness of languagerudeness of speech

Synonyms

Antonyms

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

Use 'coarseness' to describe both physical roughness (e.g., fabric) and social rudeness (e.g., speech).

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

Reserve 'coarseness' for situations where roughness or rudeness is notable, not for mild imperfections.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'corsnesse,' from Old English 'corsnes,' meaning 'coarseness, roughness,' derived from 'cors' (coarse).

📝Usage Notes

Often used to describe both physical and social qualities. In formal contexts, it may imply a lack of refinement in behavior or language.

Word Breakdown

coarse
rough or crude
root
+
-ness
state or quality of
suffix
English Dictionary