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

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!

Read more on Literature

Surely it all meant that the strange coachman truly was a friend to her and the Incorrigibles, in spite of his gruff manner and puzzling remarks.

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From distant rooms she heard men’s voices, gruff and serious, or ringing out with bold laughter.

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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