1
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
she had a gruff speaking voice, but a surprisingly sweet singing voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gruff
So did Paul Mescal, previously considered a lock, in best supporting actor for his portrayal of a gruff William Shakespeare.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Now the bearded Hurst will swap sides to lend his gruff voice and stature to the antihero role.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
The gory skit ends with the gruff older man rushing through the door to announce he’s made amends with his son, only to have his head sliced off by the flying chainsaw.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
Now the bearded Hurst will swap sides to lend his gruff voice and stature to the antihero role.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
The gory skit ends with the gruff older man rushing through the door to announce he’s made amends with his son, only to have his head sliced off by the flying chainsaw.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruff
Adjective
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And although Patterson has said offseason practices at USC have made his voice too hoarse for song, a new ballad is just beginning in Southern California.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
12 Feb. 2026
-
One of them, fist raised to the sky, let out a long yell, the hoarse shout of a gold panner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In its stern elegance, the study was in many ways a reflection of its occupant.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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These spaces were absolutely off limits to children, by the stern decree of our mothers and grandmothers.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One such pet, Lainey, a husky shepherd, was found after going missing in Arizona with the help of a neighbor's Ring camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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But the facts, for USC, are pretty grim at this point.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The weather forecast got pretty grim.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Cords are also a little intimidating because there are so many kinds, and tossing the wrong one could cost you.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
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Gibson’s simple sorting method also made the process less intimidating.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Born in 1941 to an unwed teenage mother in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson turned heads early with his fierce drive and athletic ability.—
Mark Whitaker,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Göransson saw off fierce competition, including Alexandre Desplat, a 13-time nominee and three-time winner of the category; the latter was nominated for his score for Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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However, the rugged uninhabited island feels like a world away, with its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and its reptilian residents.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Bushey’s hostile behavior following his sister’s arrival caused Laurie and her mother to take several safety measures out of fear, such as removing knives from the home, changing the locks, and finally pursuing a restraining order against Bushey and taking steps to evict him, Pirrello said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruff. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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