gruff

[gruhf]

adjective

gruffer, gruffest 

1. low and harsh; hoarse.

   a gruff voice.

2. rough, brusque, or surly.

   a gruff manner.

   Synonyms: curt
   Antonyms: courteous

gruff

/ ɡrʌf /

adjective

1. rough or surly in manner, speech, etc

   a gruff reply

2. (of a voice, bark, etc) low and throaty

Other Word Forms

• gruffish adjective
• gruffly adverb
• gruffness noun
• ungruff adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruff¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle Dutch grof “coarse”; cognate with German grob

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruff¹

C16: originally Scottish, from Dutch grof, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German girob; related to Old English hrēof, Lithuanian kraupùs

Example Sentences

Carpenter is a gruff but approachable 77 these days, his career as a film director receding in the rearview.

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His “gruff” father had little time for such infantilizing obeisance and would resist as best he could.

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Unlike the gruff, barky impressions lots of comedians were doing at the time, Johnson’s had a flow.

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In a new role as JV defensive coordinator, he deployed his gruff but humor-infused brand of coaching while welcoming a group of incoming ninth-graders to the program.

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A supporting Emmy for his performance as the gruff yet insightful therapist Paul Rhoades on Apple TV+’s comedy “Shrinking” would be a good start.

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Related Words

• blunt 
• boisterous 
• brusque 
• crusty 
• dour 
• grumpy 
• nasty 
• offhand 
• surly