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
-
Over the ensuing decades, Duvall had numerous other memorable turns as tough guys, gruff mentors and men seeking redemption.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The characters are well developed and unpredictable—perhaps none more so than John Stone, Nasir’s gruff public-defense attorney.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In its stern elegance, the study was in many ways a reflection of its occupant.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
These spaces were absolutely off limits to children, by the stern decree of our mothers and grandmothers.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the facts, for USC, are pretty grim at this point.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The weather forecast got pretty grim.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Born in 1941 to an unwed teenage mother in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson turned heads early with his fierce drive and athletic ability.—
Mark Whitaker,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Göransson saw off fierce competition, including Alexandre Desplat, a 13-time nominee and three-time winner of the category; the latter was nominated for his score for Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cords are also a little intimidating because there are so many kinds, and tossing the wrong one could cost you.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Gibson’s simple sorting method also made the process less intimidating.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
However, the rugged uninhabited island feels like a world away, with its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and its reptilian residents.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bushey’s hostile behavior following his sister’s arrival caused Laurie and her mother to take several safety measures out of fear, such as removing knives from the home, changing the locks, and finally pursuing a restraining order against Bushey and taking steps to evict him, Pirrello said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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As events are leaning toward David Ellison and Paramount prevailing in its $108 billion hostile-takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery, almost a dozen Republican state attorneys general are insisting that the federal government heavily scrutinize Netflix‘s bid for the iconic studio.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The actor's wife reportedly suffered severe burns while attempting to rescue him.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Two injured residents, a 25-year-old mother with severe burns and a 2-year-old child with serious injuries, were transported to hospitals, officials said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ungentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungentle. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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