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gruff

/ɡɹʌf/adjective

Rough and unfriendly in voice or manner.

Example sentences

  • “The gruff old shopkeeper rarely smiled, but he was kind to children.”
  • “The gruff bus driver told everyone to move to the back.”

Often softened in fiction by a warm interior: the gruff exterior hiding a kind heart is a stock character. Applies to voices as much as manners.

Synonyms for gruff

Antonyms

Find it in: Words to describe a person.

Related words

abrasiveHarsh and unpleasant in the way one treats or speaks to others.gullibleToo ready to believe what others say, and therefore easy to trick.haggardLooking very tired, thin, and unwell, usually from worry, illness, or lack of sleep.haughtyBehaving as if you are better or more important than other people; proud and scornful.headstrongInsisting on doing things your own way, regardless of what others advise.genteelOverly polite and refined in manner, often in a way that seems artificial or old-fashioned.