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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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
Audiences can often sense the corporate overlords’ gruff hands pushing these previously distinct programs together.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 July 2025
Their gruff cheers mismatched the high-pitched hum of the buggies.
—William Liang, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Dan Hedaya sets the gold-medal standard for gruff dads in Nineties teen movies.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025
On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 July 2025
Their gruff cheers mismatched the high-pitched hum of the buggies.
—William Liang, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Dan Hedaya sets the gold-medal standard for gruff dads in Nineties teen movies.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025
On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gruff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruff
Adjective
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For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
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Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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But she and the remaining Storm family members are swept up into an inheritance game – her father’s last wish, organized by her father’s stern, handsome right-hand man.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
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John Doman, a seasoned TV actor whose work has included guest arcs on ER and Oz, got his first long-term gig with his role as the stern Deputy Rawls on The Wire.—
Derek Lawrence,
EW.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Hank’s son Bobby is no longer a husky middle-schooler, but a 21-year-old running his own Japanese-German fusion restaurant in Dallas, for instance.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
30 July 2025
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Now, at only 23 years old, he's gone viral for his warm, husky voice and his Noah Kahan meets Zach Bryan country-folk sound.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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In the last few years, fierce controversies have often been sparked by commercials, with commentators seemingly viewing ad campaigns as the battleground for a never-ending culture war.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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In the barrios of the American Southwest, chola girls perfected their look with dark lip liner, oversized flannels, and nameplate earrings, styling themselves with fierce precision that both declared loyalty and warded off erasure.—
Alexandra Jane,
Essence,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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While McArthur was being interviewed by investigators, search teams made a grim discovery: a portion of a human skull was found sticking out of the ground, encased in concrete and potting soil.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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The grim task, using strategies including hand-sifting and specific diving techniques, is expected to drag on for months.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Adventure Mate uses a mixture of hardened tool steel, composite and aerospace-grade aluminum to create a powerful, rugged tool that weighs in under 5 lb (2.3 kg) inclusive of all the hard components (handle, axe/saw head and shovel head).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 July 2025
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The Thai military has since claimed that more than 100 Cambodian soldiers have been killed as fighting spread throughout their rugged border, spanning some 500 miles.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Recently, Altra added low drop shoes to its offerings, which can be less intimidating that flat, zero-drop shoes for beginners.—
Lauren Wingenroth,
SELF,
25 July 2025
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Being diagnosed with a rheumatic disease is a life-altering experience that can feel overwhelming and intimidating.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Five days later, on July 8, an attorney for the city manager submitted a letter of potential claim against the city citing defamation, harassment and creation of a hostile work environment.—
Anita Edmondson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 July 2025
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In early October 2022, the ruling said, McCarty filed a hostile work environment complaint with the police department.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruff. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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