gruff

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgrəf How to pronounce gruff (audio)
Synonyms of gruff
1
: rough, brusque, or stern in manner, speech, or aspect
a gruff reply
2
: being deep and harsh : hoarse
a gruff voice
gruffly adverb
gruffness noun

gruff

2 of 2

verb

gruffed; gruffing; gruffs

transitive verb

: to utter in a gruff voice or manner
"Get out of bed now!" gruffed the sergeant.

Synonyms of gruff

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Adjective

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Choose the Right Synonym for gruff

bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner.

bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality.

a bluff manner

blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings.

a blunt appraisal

brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness.

a brusque response

curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness.

a curt command

crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness.

a crusty exterior

gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness.

puts on a gruff pose

Examples of gruff in a Sentence

Adjective Don't be fooled by his gruff manner—he's really very kind. He spoke in a gruff voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Pangan remembers of Brun, imitating his gruff voice, and shaking her head. — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026 Experiments In Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie Maya Davis travels to Ireland to find love the old-fashioned way for her dating podcast, only to endure the most disastrous blind date of her life with a gruff sheep farmer. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 Kinnear, Collette, Dano and Breslin each have a distinct highlight of working with the actor, who played a gruff grandfather to Breslin’s young Olive. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Matt Damon plays Odysseus as a gruff, practical tactician, rather than an energetically inventive and morally dubious schemer. — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gruff

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Dutch grof; akin to Old High German grob coarse, hruf scurf — more at dandruff

Verb

derivative of gruff entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gruff was in 1706

Rhymes for gruff

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Browse Nearby Words

gruesomeness
gruff
gruffly
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Cite this Entry

“Gruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruff. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gruff

adjective
ˈgrəf
1
: rough or stern in manner, speech, or look
a gruff reply
2
: being deep and harsh : hoarse
a gruff voice
gruffly adverb
gruffness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gruff

Nglish: Translation of gruff for Spanish Speakers

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