rugged times

USAGE SUMMARY

"rugged times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a period of difficulty, hardship, or trouble. For example: "We have gone through some rugged times during the pandemic, but we will make it through".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These are kids who have gone through some pretty rugged times.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"It's been a rugged time, candidly," Mr. Specter said.

The New York Times

Sean talked for a bit about the rugged time he'd had getting through North Dakota, from Minot to Williston, where an oil and construction boom has made motel rooms and even campsites scarce and has rendered the roads dangerous with truck traffic.

The New York Times

Along the southern coast the land drops away from a 2,000-foot (600-metre) plateau, backed by a rugged escarpment three times as high, to meet the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I would say it's going to be pretty rugged going every time we play them".

The New York Times - Sports

This approach for using temperature profiling in lined holes with heating is a practical advance in fractured rock hydrogeology because the liners are readily available, the equipment needed for heating is low cost and rugged, and the time needed to obtain the profiles is not excessive for most projects.

Journal of Hydrology

Mr. Tepfer's pianism, both for Mr. Winther and in his own solos, was rugged and emphatic; at times his harmonies evoked a slightly bent Americana.

The New York Times - Arts

The remaining movements of the Sextet are written in that vein, with haunting string effects and at times a rugged Bartokian style.

The New York Times

Snow can fall more than a meter at a time during a single storm in flat areas, and meters at a time in rugged terrain, such as mountains.

Wikipedia

But Mr. FitzSimons argues they are more like the blower Bentleys of the time -- rugged racing machines, operated by young aristocrats, proud of their engineering and undisguised by styling.

The New York Times

DENVER — As a wilderness firefighter, Caleb Renno hiked over mountains until his heels bled, living out of tents and eating packaged food for weeks at a time in rugged corners of the burning West.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rugged times" to describe a period marked by significant challenges and difficulties, especially when implying resilience is required to overcome them.

Common error

Avoid using "rugged times" in overly casual conversations; it's more suited for formal writing or serious discussions where the gravity of the situation needs to be emphasized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rugged times" functions as a noun phrase, where "rugged" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "times". Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rugged times" is a grammatically sound and evocative way to describe periods filled with hardship and adversity. As indicated by Ludwig, it is appropriate for formal writing and serious discussions, conveying a sense of challenges that demand resilience. While less frequent than alternatives like "hard times" or "difficult period", "rugged times" adds a layer of intensity and emphasizes the strength required to navigate through those challenges. It most commonly appears in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias offering a nuanced way to depict trying circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

times of hardship

Directly states the presence of suffering and difficulty.

hard times

A more concise and common way to express the same idea, reducing the descriptive element.

tough times

Uses a different adjective to describe the difficulty, conveying a sense of resilience required.

challenging times

Substitutes "rugged" with "challenging", focusing on the demanding nature of the period.

trying times

Highlights the stressful and patience-testing nature of the period.

testing times

Emphasizes the aspect of being tested or tried by the circumstances.

difficult period

Replaces "rugged" with a more general adjective, softening the intensity.

a difficult phase

Indicates a specific stage or period marked by difficulty.

a rough patch

An idiomatic expression indicating a temporary period of difficulty.

periods of adversity

A more formal way of describing difficult times, focusing on the presence of misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use "rugged times" in a sentence?

You can use "rugged times" to describe periods of significant difficulty, such as, "The company faced "rugged times" during the economic recession".

What are some alternatives to saying "rugged times"?

Alternatives include "difficult period", "challenging times", or "hard times", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "rugged times" in formal writing?

Yes, "rugged times" is appropriate for formal writing when describing a period marked by significant challenges or hardships.

What's the difference between "rugged times" and "hard times"?

"Hard times" is a more general term for difficult periods, while "rugged times" implies a period of difficulty that requires strength and resilience to overcome.