as in sternness
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Recent Examples of gruffness
Mackay and Turner are both excellent, two movie stars who seem totally game to be asked to move with real gruffness.
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Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruffness
Noun
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Charlie and Pim are loyal employees of Smiling Friends, a mysterious business that exists solely to assist people with their problems, regardless of their severity.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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Prosecutors have recommended an 11-year sentence, citing Combs’s lack of remorse and the severity of harm inflicted.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The harshness of the language and the raw politicking shocked voters.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
6 Sep. 2025
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The bass doesn’t overpower vocals, and the treble avoids harshness.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The monthlong celebration comes at a crucial time, as transgender youths continue to face mounting legislative attacks and social hostility nationwide.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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Police officers eventually began to line tee boxes as the weekend progressed, though that also did not assuage the hostility.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their pro-human vehemence was evident in every quote and frame.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
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As the agency’s OK seemed near, the season premiere of South Park on Paramount’s Comedy Central on Wednesday eviscerated Trump – and Paramount’s legal settlement – with a vehemence that’s become increasingly rare.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Indeed, inspired by the indefatigable Rice, who was making last-ditch blocks at one end after chasing half the length of the pitch and setting up goals at the other, there was a resilience and relentlessness about Arsenal against Newcastle that spoke volumes for their mentality.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Bregman’s Astros were always defined by their tenacity and relentlessness, qualities this year’s Red Sox showed plenty of on Friday night.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gruffness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruffness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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