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gruffness

gruffness

1 6.6
A rough, unfriendly way of speaking or acting
  • noun
  • /ˈɡrəf.nəs/
translation icon : brusquedad
  • The visuals do a pretty good job of putting their own emphasis on the violence and chaos, while the voice-over brings gruffness and basic exposition.

Examples

  • "She lowered her voice, aiming for husky emotion but achieving only hilarious throaty gruffness.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Despite her gruffness, she always spoke kindly to her students.

  • So you can't let their gruffness bother you or deter you.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Mo had just the desired dose of gruffness you could expect from a patriarch, and as such, was popular too.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • His pride wouldn't let him admit to that, but she knew him well enough to read the concern beneath the outer gruffness.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Soon I struck upon the idea of pretending that Nohu himself was the chairman; every time he spoke, I overlooked his gruffness and tried to imagine gentleness instead.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • I am aware, of course, that none of this troubled me then, that I felt nothing but love for this man—for his gruffness, his way with the world—and saw nothing but love returned.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • His gruffness made it hard for others to see how caring he truly was.

  • The old man's gruffness intimidated newcomers, but he was really quite friendly.

Synonyms

bluntness
vsgruffness
6 4.8

A direct and honest way of speaking that can seem rude

is less about frankness and more about rough, unfriendly abruptness
sharp tongue
vsgruffness
4 6.1

A habit of speaking in a harsh, critical way

is broader, focusing on rough and abrupt manner not only biting remarks
coarseness
vsgruffness
2 6.4

Rudeness or crude behavior that shows little politeness

is rough and abrupt in tone specifically, not only lacking refinement
sharpness
vsgruffness
1 4.6

A harsh, sudden way of speaking that sounds unfriendly

is rougher and more unfriendly rather than only urgent tone
brusqueness
vsgruffness
1 7.9

A short, direct way of speaking that often seems rude

is rougher and less only about blunt directness, adding unfriendly tone
surliness
vsgruffness
1 7.7

A way of behaving that is angry and unfriendly

is similar but focuses more on roughness and harsh speech than mood alone
sternness
vsgruffness
1 5.1

A strict, serious attitude that does not allow bad behavior

is rough and unfriendly in delivery rather than formal strictness
abruptness
vsgruffness
1 5.2

A rude, sudden way of speaking or behaving

is similar but includes roughness and unfriendliness beyond suddenness
boorishness
vsgruffness
1 8.1

Rude, insensitive behavior that ignores good manners

is specifically harsh and abrupt in speech rather than broadly uncouth behaviour
roughness
vsgruffness
1 3.9

A harsh quality in a voice or behavior that feels severe

is similar but emphasizes unfriendly abruptness rather than general severity
curtness
vsgruffness
1 7.0

A short, rude way of speaking that sounds unfriendly

is broader, combining curt words with a generally rough or unfriendly manner
shortness
vsgruffness
1 6.5

A quick, unfriendly way of speaking to someone

matches but the key leans more to roughness and harshness in tone
snippiness
vsgruffness
1 7.7

A short, slightly rude way of speaking to someone

is harsher overall, adding rough or harsh delivery beyond mere curt replies
abrasiveness
vsgruffness
1 7.0

A harsh, rude manner or tone that offends people

is closer in abruptness and roughness rather than the offense-causing focus
acerbity
vsgruffness
1 9.8

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is rough and abrupt in delivery rather than mainly bitter tone
churlishness
vsgruffness
  • Formal
1 8.6

Rude, unfriendly behavior that makes other people feel unwelcome

is rough in manner and speech rather than intentionally mean in spirit
ungentleness
vsgruffness
1 8.2

A harsh, unkind way of speaking or acting

is more about abrupt, unfriendly speech than general absence of gentleness
causticity
vsgruffness
9.7

Speech or writing that is sharply critical and makes people feel bad

is rough and abrupt in manner rather than specifically sarcastic criticism
brassiness
vsgruffness
6.0

A loud, bold way of behaving that often seems rude

is mainly about rough and abrupt speech rather than bold loudness
thorniness
vsgruffness
8.9

A harsh, unfriendly manner that hurts or upsets people

is similar but the key stresses abruptness in speech more clearly
acridity
vsgruffness
9.4

A harsh tone in speech or writing that hurts people

is rough and abrupt in manner rather than only bitter tonal quality
acridness
vsgruffness
8.4

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is rough and abrupt in behaviour and speech, not solely disagreeable tone

Antonyms

103 1.0

A friendly, kind feeling in the way someone speaks or acts

16 1.0

A kind and pleasant way of treating other people

How Gruff

surliness
1 7.7
gruffness
1 6.6
curtness
1 7.0
abruptness
1 6.3
gentleness
19 1.3

Surface Forms

gruffness singular
gruffnesses plural

Morphology

gruffness = gruff (transparent) = gruff + ness

Formed by the adjective 'gruff' plus the productive noun-forming suffix '-ness'; the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Gruffness comes from the adjective gruff, which probably imitates a low, rough sound like a short 'growl'. So, gruffness is the quality of having a rough, harsh, or unfriendly manner or voice.