roughshod

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɹʌfʃɑd/ UK /ˈɹʌfʃɒd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')

He ran roughshod over their objections.
2

adj
(historical) shod with shoes having nail heads projecting to prevent slipping

The cavalry rode roughshod over the terrain.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · acting without regard for... overbearing tyrannical dictatorialhigh-handedinconsiderate

2 adj · (historical) shod with... hobnailed

More heedless reckless thoughtless careless

Opposites

considerate gentle deferential accommodating

Appears in

Idioms (1)

See all

ride roughshod over
to impose your will harshly while ignoring other people's rights or feelings

Etymology

roughshod (Modern English); a compound of _rough_ ('having an uneven surface') and _shod_ ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others.

Topics

Describing Qualities Register & Style

External links

# roughshod

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹʌfʃɑd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɹʌfʃɒd/

## Meanings
1. acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')
2. (historical) shod with shoes having nail heads projecting to prevent slipping

## Examples
- He ran roughshod over their objections.
- The cavalry rode roughshod over the terrain.

## Synonyms
- overbearing
- tyrannical
- dictatorial
- high-handed
- inconsiderate
- heedless
- reckless
- thoughtless
- careless
- hobnailed

## Antonyms
- considerate
- gentle
- deferential
- accommodating

## Etymology
roughshod (Modern English); a compound of _rough_ ('having an uneven surface') and _shod_ ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others.

## AI Etymology
Roughshod is modern English; a compound of rough ('having an uneven surface') and shod ('wearing shoes'), originally describing a horse shod with projecting nail heads, later figuratively riding or acting with disregard for others. In current use it is an adjective meaning "acting without regard for others; inconsiderate or overbearing (chiefly in 'ride/run roughshod over')". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The semantic development is therefore important as well as the form: the word moves from the older concrete, technical, or literal setting into the present figurative or specialized sense.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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