gruff

[ gruhf ]

/ grʌf /

adjective, gruff·er, gruff·est.

low and harsh; hoarse: a gruff voice.

rough, brusque, or surly: a gruff manner.

Nearby words

gruel, grueling, gruelling, gruenberg, gruesome, gruff, gruffy, grugru, gruiform, grum, grumble

Origin of gruff

1525–35; < Middle Dutch grof coarse; cognate with German grob

SYNONYMS FOR gruff

2 curt.

ANTONYMS FOR gruff

2 courteous.

Related forms

gruff·ish, adjectivegruff·ly, adverbgruff·ness, nounun·gruff, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gruffly

"I don't see what good that would do," said Commissioner Kondorman, gruffly.
The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon|Richard Connell
He looked at the lads suspiciously, and with an air of disappointment, and then gruffly demanded their business.
In the Days of Washington|William Murray Graydon
Warrenton said gruffly to him: "Count, miller; count truly and honestly."
Robin Hood|Paul Creswick
"And a crazy, wild-eyed scheme at that," said Annixter gruffly.
The Octopus|Frank Norris

"I was n't thinking of the title," said Grog, gruffly, as he relapsed into a moody silence.
Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2)|Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for gruffly

gruff

/ (ɡrʌf) /

adjective

rough or surly in manner, speech, etca gruff reply

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

Derived Forms

gruffish, adjectivegruffly, adverbgruffness, noun

Word Origin for gruff

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012