gruffly


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.

gruff

 (grŭf)
adj. gruff·er, gruff·est
1. Brusque or stern in manner or appearance: a gruff reply.
2. Hoarse; harsh: a gruff voice.

[Dutch grof, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German.]

gruff′ly adv.
gruff′ness n.
Synonyms: gruff, brusque, blunt2, curt
These adjectives mean abrupt and sometimes discourteous in manner or speech. Gruff implies roughness or surliness but does not necessarily suggest rudeness: a decent fellow once you get past the gruff manner. Brusque emphasizes rude abruptness: dismissed us with a brusque wave of the hand. Blunt stresses utter frankness and usually a disconcerting directness: was blunt in her disapproval of the idea. Curt denotes usually rude briefness and abruptness of speech: a curt, two-line letter of rejection.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adv.1.gruffly - in a gruff manner; "`No,' he replied gruffly"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
بِفَظاظَه، بِغلاظَه
nevrle
bryskt
hranalega
ters ters

gruffly

[ˈgrʌflɪ] ADVbruscamente
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gruffly

[ˈgrʌfli] adv [say] → d'un ton bourru
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gruffly

advbarsch, schroff
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

gruffly

[ˈgrʌflɪ] advin modo burbero, burberamente
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

gruff

(graf) adjective
1. deep and rough. a gruff voice.
2. (seeming to be) unfriendly. a gruff old man.
ˈgruffly adverb
ˈgruffness noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
Accordingly, it was pretty gruffly that the doctor answered him.
One of the soldiers, evidently suffering, shouted gruffly and angrily at Pierre to go back.
"All right!" answered the Saw-Horse, gruffly, and dashed away so suddenly that Tip had to gasp for breath and hold firmly to the post he had driven into the creature's neck.
But before the real personal fright could soundly clutch her, one of the young fellows said gruffly, "Come along with me, you," and as she wedged out at his heels she noticed that another one of the escort was following her.
'Don't, Eliza!' said Miss Millward, somewhat gruffly, as she impatiently pushed her away.
"What do you hear from your mother?" asked the old lady gruffly.
"Or mine," said the other, gruffly. "I wouldn't have incommoded none of you, if I'd had my way." Then, they both laughed, and began cracking nuts, and spitting the shells about.
"Well, it's been a doubling so many years, you see," the tailor replied, a little gruffly, "and I think I'd like the money now.
"There's nothing for you to make a fuss about," he said gruffly. "I answered a plain question, that's all.
When Michael, not entirely unwitting of the snub of the man's lack of interest, stirred restlessly with a threat to depart, he had flung at him gruffly:
My "Scenes of Modern Prison Life" had not sold so well as had been anticipated, and my publisher was gruffly disinclined to speculate in any future works done in the same style.
"Come and let a fellow in," he said in a low tone, and when he stood in the hall he clutched Phebe's arm, whispering gruffly, "How is Rose?"