What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
roughness
Example
The roughness of the sandpaper made it perfect for smoothing out the wood. [roughness: noun]
Example
The road was so rough that it made the car shake. [rough: adjective]
unevenness
Example
The unevenness of the ground made it difficult to walk. [unevenness: noun]
Example
The paint job had some unevenness, with some areas thicker than others. [uneven: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Roughness is more commonly used than unevenness in everyday language. Roughness can be used in various contexts, while unevenness is more specific and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between roughness and unevenness?
Both roughness and unevenness are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
