The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative gruffer, superlative gruffest
having a rough, surly, and harsh demeanor and nature. examples
hoarse-voiced. examples
hoarse. examples
third-person singular simple present gruffs, present participle gruffing, simple past and past participle gruffed
To speak gruffly. quotations examples
“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.
2001, Benny Hinn, He Touched Me: An Autobiography
(British India) Of goods: bulky. quotations examples
[…] articles that usually compose the gruff cargoes of our outward bound shipping.
1765, John Zephaniah Holwell, Interesting Historical Events..., page 194
[…] which by causing a great export of rice enhances the price of labour, and consequently of all other gruff, piece-goods and raw silk […]
quoted in 1869, James Long, Selections from Unpublished Records of Government... (page 171)