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GRE vocabulary

gruff

adjectiveCommon GRE wordMore G words

abrupt or brusque in manner; rough and stern

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In a sentence

Gruff in a sentence

Here is an example sentence showing gruff in a sentence.

Beneath his gruff manner and clipped replies, the old sergeant was surprisingly kind.

Synonyms
Antonyms
gentleaffablegracious

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

Critics complained that the documentary's narration was relentlessly blank, hammering home its single thesis so often that viewers felt lectured rather than informed.

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Common questions

Questions about “gruff”

Gruff (adjective) means abrupt or brusque in manner; rough and stern
Here is gruff used in an example sentence: "Beneath his gruff manner and clipped replies, the old sergeant was surprisingly kind."
Common synonyms for gruff include brusque, curt, surly, abrupt.
Antonyms of gruff include gentle, affable, gracious.
Gruff is a GRE-level vocabulary word worth knowing for the Verbal section.

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