1
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
she had a gruff speaking voice, but a surprisingly sweet singing voice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stern
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
I didn't exchange one word with the gruff mountaineer who sat next to me in the diner
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gruff
When Jihan called her brother’s phone a few hours later, a man with a gruff voice picked up.
—
Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Pascal’s performance as Joel is moving as it’s ever been, carried as much by the words shimmering, unspoken, in his eyes, as by whatever gruff or fumbling words tumble out of his mouth.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
Despite a gruff exterior that chased some would-be photographers away, Lipack changed the lives of many who stuck it out.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure
A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold
Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Pascal’s performance as Joel is moving as it’s ever been, carried as much by the words shimmering, unspoken, in his eyes, as by whatever gruff or fumbling words tumble out of his mouth.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
Despite a gruff exterior that chased some would-be photographers away, Lipack changed the lives of many who stuck it out.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure
A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold
Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruff
Adjective
-
Haidar’s voice is hoarse and strained, the result of an emergency tracheostomy, a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the neck to aid breathing.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
As the speech came to an end, Booker’s voice was hoarse, but his resolve was unshaken.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The president shared no caption alongside the image, which depicts him sitting with a stern expression and holding up one finger while wearing white and gold papal attire, including a large cross necklace.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
3 May 2025
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However, none will have criminal records after their cases are adjudicated, under a deal the district attorney offered during a stern press conference on Tuesday.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
In a viral TikTok video, a Siberian husky puppy is filmed meeting a kitten for the very first time in his life, and his heartening reaction to the feline has quickly turned him into a social-media sensation.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
-
In a viral TikTok video, a Siberian husky puppy is filmed meeting a kitten for the very first time in his life, and his heartening reaction to the feline has quickly turned him into a social-media sensation.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2025
-
The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sitting in on India press conferences can often be a bit grim, carefully orchestrated by the team's hierarchy and little is usually given to their hungry press corps.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
India claims to have targeted militant infrastructure, but the reality is grim: at least 26 Pakistani civilians -including women and a young child were reported killed in the strikes.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
And on the rugged ninth hole, his tee shot held up in the grass just short of the bunker.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
-
Nance’s experience and rugged style of play were missed.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
In places where higher education was all but a miraculous dream, the act of reading can be intimidating, exclusionary, not to mention unaffordable for people who spend their days working two to three jobs and twelve-hour shifts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Hussain has a friendly, reassuring presence, making the already-simple recipes even less intimidating.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
And Marguerite did actually manage to live there for years, scraping together a life on the hostile tundra.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
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And this is a very hard-line government that has taken a kind of hostile view of everybody in the region.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruff. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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