adj., gruff·er, gruff·est.
- Brusque or stern in manner or appearance: a gruff reply.
- Hoarse; harsh: a gruff voice.
[Dutch grof, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German.]
gruffly gruff'ly adv.gruffness gruff'ness n.
SYNONYMS gruff, brusque, blunt, bluff, curt, crusty. These adjectives mean abrupt and sometimes discourteous in manner or speech. Gruff implies roughness or surliness but does not necessarily suggest rudeness: a gruff reply. Brusque emphasizes rude abruptness: a brusque manner. Blunt stresses utter frankness and usually a disconcerting directness: a blunt refusal. Bluff refers to unpolished, unceremonious manner but usually implies hearty good nature: a bluff and courageous sailor. Curt denotes usually rude briefness and abruptness of speech: a curt letter of rejection. Crusty suggests a rough and forbidding manner that sometimes conceals benevolence of spirit: a crusty old gentlemen who feeds stray cats.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
