adjective
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rough or surly in manner, speech, etc
a gruff reply
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(of a voice, bark, etc) low and throaty
Other Word Forms
- gruffish adjective
- gruffly adverb
- gruffness noun
- ungruff adjective
Etymology
Origin of gruff
First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle Dutch grof “coarse”; cognate with German grob
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Hersh, age 88, is a gruff charmer; a viewer will understand why people open up to him.
The call-in, which lasted four hours and a half hours, has also been used to humanize a leader better known in the West for his gruff outbursts and cold demeanor.
I walk the paper up to the front, and even gruff Mr. Harris gives me a look of concern.
From Literature
The title track is both complex and hummable, and it features contrasting solos from Mr. Rogers, who is pointed and gruff, and Mr. Finlayson, who is lithe and bright.
And the usually gruff and unsentimental Lord Fredrick Ashton was discussing wallpaper with Mrs. Clarke and cheerily picking baby names, and with a full moon coming on, too!
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
