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
gruffed; gruffing; gruffs
: to utter in a gruff voice or manner
"Get out of bed now!" gruffed the sergeant.
Examples of gruff in a Sentence
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
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Two months ago, the world lost a gruff and burly guitar player named Al Barile.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 11 June 2025
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 All Example Sentences for gruff
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Adjective
With a deep, gruff voice and animus toward humanity, McCarthy was an unusual dance-music star when Nitzer Ebb started notching chart hits.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025
Two months ago, the world lost a gruff and burly guitar player named Al Barile.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 11 June 2025
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 All Example Sentences for gruff
Cite this Entry
“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruff. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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