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   Gruff

   /ɡrəf/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of a voice) rough and low in pitch: "she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice" Similar roughhoarseharshgutturalthroatyhuskycroakingraspingraspygravellygrowlygrowlinglowthickOpposite softmellow
   • ▪ abrupt or taciturn in manner: "penetrate a gruff exterior and you will find him affable" Similar abruptbrusquecurtshortbluntbluffno-nonsenselaconictaciturnsurlychurlishgrumpycrotchetycrabbycrabbedcrossbad-temperedshort-temperedill-naturedcrustytetchybearishsullensouruncivilrudeunmannerlyimpolitediscourteousungraciousunceremoniousoffhandinformal:grouchyoffoffishOpposite friendlycourteous

   Word Origin late 15th century (in the sense ‘coarse-grained’): from Flemish and Dutch grof ‘coarse, rude’, of West Germanic origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. gruffly adverb
   • 2. gruffness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • G

     2

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • F

     4

   • F

     4

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