1
as in brusquely
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2
as in grimly
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruffly
Adverb
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The veil having been brusquely lifted from his eyes, Blair eventually left the service.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025 -
Gina remains loyal to Amy, who has at times treated her friend brusquely.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Innocence isn’t even about the recent past; statistically speaking, the grimly familiar scenes of mayhem might take place somewhere next week.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
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One of the most grimly funniest moments of the movie sees Tereza interrogate the boat driver about that wedding ring on his finger.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The Yangs were called in and curtly told the judgment was being overturned, their lawsuit dismissed without trial.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Choose fragrant Ruby Red grapefruits that feel heavy for their size; before juicing, roll them firmly on the counter to break up the juice sacs inside.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
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But at least in its immediate aftermath, investigations of Tuesday’s shooting appear to be firmly in the hands of the federal government, without any clear interventions by state officials.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Fidesz, whose popularity dropped sharply in the aftermath of the passage of the new constitution, was reëlected with parliamentary super-majorities in the next two elections, in 2014 and 2018, despite receiving less than fifty per cent of the vote.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the narrow Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Only 22% of workers globally strongly agreed that their jobs were safe from elimination in 2025, according to a recent report from ADP Research based on responses from more than 39,000 professionals worldwide.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Broadcom was another force pushing strongly upward on the market.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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But in August 2022, Centene abruptly backed out of the investment.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Roy was in his second job running a team in the league, following a three-year tenure with the Avalanche from 2013-16 that included winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year and abruptly resigning in the middle of the summer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Wall Street has been determinedly upbeat about the war in Iran resolving in a relatively short window.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though his injuries were severe, the sailors watched in wonder as the cat determinedly licked his wounds, then got back to work destroying the rats threatening the ship’s food stores.—
Anne Ewbank,
Popular Science,
18 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gruffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruffly. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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