harrumph

[ huh-ruhmf ]

verb (used without object)

to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner: The professor harrumphed good-naturedly.
to express oneself gruffly.

Origin of harrumph

First recorded in1935–40; imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use harrumph in a sentence

“The most dangerous men are those who are in charge of war,” he harrumphed.
What Does Julian Assange Want? | Tunku Varadarajan | July 28, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Phoenix harrumphed several times in its throat and shuffled its feet.
David and the Phoenix | Edward Ormondroyd
She harrumphed a bit, as suspicious as she usually is, and I went to the stove for more coffee.
Cue for Quiet | Thomas L. Sherred

British Dictionary definitions for harrumph

harrumph

/ (həˈrʌmf) /

verb

(intr) to clear or make the noise of clearing the throat

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

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