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Synonym Chooser

How is the word gruff distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of gruff are bluff, blunt, brusque, crusty, and curt. While all these words mean "abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner," gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

When is bluff a more appropriate choice than gruff?

While the synonyms bluff and gruff are close in meaning, bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

In what contexts can blunt take the place of gruff?

While in some cases nearly identical to gruff, blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

When could brusque be used to replace gruff?

The meanings of brusque and gruff largely overlap; however, brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

When would crusty be a good substitute for gruff?

Although the words crusty and gruff have much in common, crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

When might curt be a better fit than gruff?

The synonyms curt and gruff are sometimes interchangeable, but curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gruff While Hornets fans were not as gruff as New York Knicks or Boston Celtics supporters, Charlotte pro basketball fans were among the leaders who posted a specific swear word. Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025 Paul is lovable but gruff, while Jimmy is lost and a bit broken after having lost his wife in a drunk driving accident. Hedy Phillips, People.com, 2 May 2025 Explore Ray Vaughn See latest videos, charts and news As Vaughn settles in the second time around, his voice is gruff, worn from rapping, recording, interviewing, and flat-out existing. Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2025 Peter Capaldi - Twelfth Doctor From 2014-2017, a gruff and action-ready Peter Capaldi shredded an electric guitar through the TARDIS. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gruff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruff
Adjective
  • For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship’s contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • The affable Carroll was the polar opposite of the stern hard-driving Parcells.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The footage has resonated with countless husky owners who are all too familiar with the breed's mischievous nature.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Pictures of husky puppy Kiss who is now in the care of Austin Pets Alive!
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • Winds, too, were fierce, gusting up to 70 mph at the lakefront, according to the National Weather Service.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
  • To put that drop into context, Gates was the fifth richest person alive on July 3, highlighting the fierce (and sometimes erratic) battle to make it to the top 10.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the grim topic, the report offers encouraging news: Steady progress has been made in reducing child labor globally.
    Fatma Tanis, NPR, 26 June 2025
  • Gatwa’s first as the Doctor. Compare Season 15 to Jodie Whittaker’s last outing as the Time Lord, and things get grimmer.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pictured above is Indonesia’s mountainous Halmahera rainforest, featuring rugged topography shaped by outpourings from the numerous volcanoes that pockmark the region.
    Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
  • Loro Piana’s Wish Onde Soft also boasts exceptional softness and hairiness, while the new Wish Rice part of the same family is a fancy yarn defined by a rugged, tactile effect ensured by chain-like structure.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • The foundations themselves are also focused on education to make clinical trials less intimidating.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
  • Catcher Caden Bodine, a top-round prospect, leads Coastal Carolina’s balanced and intimidating lineup.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Guzman’s book was used as a common reader by several universities in 2024, reflecting ongoing concerns about the often hostile, partisan gaps that have roiled many campuses in recent years.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In the five years since the events of Jurassic World Dominion, many of the dinosaurs and other formerly extinct creatures that were set free into the world have died off, unable to survive in the modern climate and otherwise hostile environments.
    Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruff. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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