as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a demanding and ungentle land that was not for the fainthearted
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Recent Examples of ungentle
But going back to trying to be gentle in ungentle times.
—
Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2020
Notes From an Apocalypse is a gentle argument for coming to terms with the precarity of life, published in a moment where people are facing its fragility in an immediate and ungentle context.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 16 Apr. 2020
Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2020
Notes From an Apocalypse is a gentle argument for coming to terms with the precarity of life, published in a moment where people are facing its fragility in an immediate and ungentle context.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 16 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungentle
Adjective
-
Wild Cards is a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
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So did Paul Mescal, previously considered a lock, in best supporting actor for his portrayal of a gruff William Shakespeare.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Off the ice, Knies speaks with a sterner tone at times, with his injury likely weighing on him.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz, nonetheless, issued a stern warning.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The interior is Italian social-club-cafeteria chic, with pastel murals, slightly grim lighting, and a long line of patrons snaking through the space.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Feb. 2026
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London — In an idyllic corner of an English field, beneath the lush green grass and yellow buttercups sprouting in the sunshine, archaeologists made a grim discovery.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Those funds are caught in a fierce battle over Democratic proposals, now backed by some Republicans, to impose limits on the behavior of the ICE agents whose aggressive tactics in Minneapolis have left protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti dead.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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Game director Cary Trzcinski made sure emotions did not boil over and lead to a melee, sticking his thick body and fierce game face into one brewing moment in the second half.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Chen describes it as more agile and less intimidating.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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That is very intimidating to a lot of guys, so a guy needs to be able to stand in that with me.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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There are also giant granite boulders dotting the shore, giving it a decidedly remote, rugged feel.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
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Both the Hangout Shade 7 and Hangout Shade 10 feature the rugged, adventure-ready Aerotech PVC inflatable construction that features throughout Bote's product line.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The program put on by the Star Tribune held a four-hour session for local journalists, which included hostile environment awareness and first aid training designed to help students make informed decisions about safety while reporting in volatile situations.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Three former employees who worked under Carol Johnson, Austin’s first Civil Rights Officer, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging racial discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment within the city’s Office of Civil Rights.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When his condition escalated to severe pneumonia and sepsis, his heart stopped and the team performed CPR, according to a press release on the case.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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And while there are signs the selling has become overdone, the ructions in the industry caused by artificial intelligence applications are severe enough that pricing a bottom has become a fraught exercise.—
Bernard Goyder,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ungentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungentle. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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