Meaning

having a rough, surly, and harsh demeanor and nature..

Definitions by Sense

1. having a rough, surly, and harsh demeanor and nature.
2. hoarse-voiced.
3. hoarse.
4. To speak gruffly.
5. Alternative spelling of grough (“gully in a moor”).
6. (British India) Of goods: bulky.

Example Sentences

a gruff woman

a gruff voice

“Who gave you that?” replied my father angrily. “Did you bribe someone?” “No,” I told him. “It was a gift, from some people who really want me to be on this trip.” “Fine,” he gruffed.

They found Uttley's body on the bottom of the gruff.

[…] Yorkshire and Derbyshire, where [...] the ordinary sportsman has to go "gruffing," as it is called, to game game, i. e., stealing up the "gruffs" or gullies and undulations in the ground, and trying all the clumps of long old twisted heather and broken bogs. […] the open places on the moor, and thus driving the birds forward to deep lying bogs and "gruffs" […]

[…] the body […] was found in a 'gruff' or gully about three-quarters of a mile from the Poacher's Leap.

They roost [...] in peaty gruffs and drainage channels, and on moorland tracks and sheep- walks, […]

[…] which by causing a great export of rice enhances the price of labour, and consequently of all other gruff, piece-goods and raw silk […]

Word Forms

• gruffer
• gruffest
• gruffs
• gruffing
• gruffed

Synonyms for gruff

Related Words

When Should You Use Gruff?

Use gruff when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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