rough seas
Storm-tossed ocean surface
Rough seas are ocean or lake waters with strong waves and turbulent conditions, making navigation difficult or dangerous.
The phrase appears in weather reports and maritime contexts: The ferry was canceled due to rough seas.
Figuratively, rough seas describes any turbulent period: The company faces rough seas ahead.
- stormyMarked by violent weather
- heavy weatherStormy, dangerous conditions
- choppyBroken into waves
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
- turbulentViolently agitated or disturbed
swells · rogue wave · whitecaps · gale · tempest · storm surge · tossing · pitching · hold on tight · seasick · squall · breakers · foam · spray · heaving · rolling · crashing · man overboard
- sea stormshurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclone, squall
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- sea idiomsdead in the water, smooth sailing, sink or swim, miss the boat, rock the boat
- seascapesseascapes, ocean view, coastal view, coastal scenes, ocean horizon
- travel conditionstraffic, delays, congestion, heavy traffic, light traffic
- marine weathermarine weather, storm warning, gale warning, shipping forecast, small craft advisory
sea state/water surface condition
rough seascalm seas
Flat, waveless ocean
still waters · millpond · slack water · calm waters · dead calm
rough, sea, roughly, roughness, roughen, rougher, roughest, seas, seaward