gruff
1 of 2adjective
ˈgrəf 
1
: rough, brusque, or stern in manner, speech, or aspect
a gruff reply
2
: being deep and harsh : hoarse
a gruff voice
gruffly adverb
gruffness noun
gruff
2 of 2verb
gruffed; gruffing; gruffs
transitive verb
: to utter in a gruff voice or manner
"Get out of bed now!" gruffed the sergeant.
Synonyms
Adjective
- coarse
- croaking
- croaky
- grating
- gravel
- gravelly
- hoarse
- husky
- rasping
- raspy
- rusty
- scratchy
- throaty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective Don't be fooled by his gruff manner—he's really very kind. He spoke in a gruff voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Yet, that polished and elegant shape is offset by the gruff sturdiness of that all-American, Eminem-core denim. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 29 June 2022 Cavanaugh is an old-school coach who can appear a bit gruff. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2022 Gee’s voice is gruff and his delivery is breathless, each line dense with drug-deal detail and matter-of-fact tales of murder. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Hernandez was a gruff old guy, and a heavy drinker, but Anarchy Row is a relatively welcoming place. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 23 June 2022 Some of the most poignant scenes portray the unlikely friendship that develops between Issam and Frank (Mark Camacho), the family’s initially gruff sponsor. Vanessa H. Larson, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 Paul Folkestad, another chef instructor at Western Culinary, said Brophy’s gruff exterior alienated some students, while others cherished him. oregonlive, 28 May 2022 Tuscans have a reputation for being rough and gruff, and Collodi—habitually wry, sardonic, iconoclastic—was an excellent representative of his province. Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 James Hookway, WSJ, 16 May 2022 Pompeo, often gruff in interactions with reporters, is a skilled retail politician and, although not a soaring orator, is adept at holding an audience’s attention. David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2021 See More
Adjective
The show entailed a fictional character named Dr. Gregory House that was gruff, insufferable, and quite unconventional, yet he was portrayed as a medical genius that could ferret out the most obscure of diseases and ailments. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Yet, that polished and elegant shape is offset by the gruff sturdiness of that all-American, Eminem-core denim. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 29 June 2022 Cavanaugh is an old-school coach who can appear a bit gruff. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2022 Gee’s voice is gruff and his delivery is breathless, each line dense with drug-deal detail and matter-of-fact tales of murder. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Hernandez was a gruff old guy, and a heavy drinker, but Anarchy Row is a relatively welcoming place. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 23 June 2022 Some of the most poignant scenes portray the unlikely friendship that develops between Issam and Frank (Mark Camacho), the family’s initially gruff sponsor. Vanessa H. Larson, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 Paul Folkestad, another chef instructor at Western Culinary, said Brophy’s gruff exterior alienated some students, while others cherished him. oregonlive, 28 May 2022 Tuscans have a reputation for being rough and gruff, and Collodi—habitually wry, sardonic, iconoclastic—was an excellent representative of his province. Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Verb
Devs, normally gruff with his postgame talks, couldn’t hide his pleasure. James Hookway, WSJ, 16 May 2022 Pompeo, often gruff in interactions with reporters, is a skilled retail politician and, although not a soaring orator, is adept at holding an audience’s attention. David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Dutch grof; akin to Old High German grob coarse, hruf scurf — more at dandruff
Verb
derivative of gruff entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1706, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
gruff
adjective
ˈgrəf
gruffer; gruffest
: rough in speech or manner
a gruff reply
gruffly
adverb
1
as in brusquely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brusquely
- curtly
- sharply
- abruptly
- bluntly
- rudely
- earnestly
- sincerely
- simply
- impolitely
- tactlessly
- artlessly
- point-blank
- candidly
- openly
- baldly
- frankly
- unguardedly
- honestly
- inconsiderately
- unreservedly
- truthfully
- bluffly
- straightforwardly
- straightforward
- forthrightly
- plainly
- plain
- straight
- openheartedly
- veraciously
- foursquare
- straightforwards
- directly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- politely
- courteously
- tactfully
- diplomatically
- verbosely
- wordily
- civilly
- untruthfully
- mendaciously
- long-windedly
- deceitfully
- evasively
- falsely
- erroneously
- insincerely
- ambiguously
- hypocritically
- indirectly
- fallaciously
- equivocally
- circuitously
2
as in grimly
Synonyms & Similar Words
- grimly
- determinedly
- assertively
- firmly
- strongly
- resolutely
- aggressively
- toughly
- savagely
- decidedly
- viciously
- sternly
- brutishly
- abusively
- unfeelingly
- pitilessly
- ruthlessly
- heartlessly
- callously
- obdurately
- uncharitably
- inhumanly
- mercilessly
- insensitively
- stiffly
- harshly
- inhumanely
- unsparingly
- unmercifully
- tyrannically
- brutally
- oppressively
- cold-bloodedly
- ill
- severely
- hard-heartedly
- roughly
- insensately
- hard
- hardly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- softly
- gently
- lightly
- tenderly
- mildly
- kindly
- graciously
- cordially
- leniently
- lovingly
- considerately
- benevolently
- sympathetically
- benignantly
- tolerantly
- compassionately
- understandingly
- mercifully
- clemently
- charitably
- humanely
- softheartedly