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,
17 June 2026
But then Popper smiled and the arrival of opening day momentarily mellowed his gruffness.
—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
But then Popper smiled and the arrival of opening day momentarily mellowed his gruffness.
—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruffness
Noun
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Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
Noun
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In Guatire, in Miranda state, preliminary reports indicate that several people were injured, though the severity of the injuries and the exact number of those affected remain unclear.
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Too much of it can cause brain damage, and pediatricians must regularly check for bilirubin in newborns to measure the severity of the jaundice and determine whether the child needs treatment.
Noun
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Read more Amid the harshness of Jim Crow, Walker accomplished what seemed impossible.
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Then there is the harshness of space.
Noun
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Engelbert has consistently mismanaged the overt physical hostility directed at the league's biggest star.
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Today, however, some experts suggest that explicit displays of racial hostility have become more visible in public spaces.
Noun
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Less than a minute later, Kerr found a new level of vehemence after the Clippers’ John Collins wasn’t called for goaltending on a shot by Gary Payton II.
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Dudamel and the orchestra delivered the score with absolute conviction and an almost punishing vehemence.
Noun
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Minnesota dominated the paint – 38 points in the paint to the Valkyries’ 22 – and Williams was central to the relentlessness.
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His relentlessness and aggression with and without possession will be an asset to any top team.
Cite this Entry
“Gruffness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruffness. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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