Basic

gruff

/ɡrʌf/

gruff ɡrʌf

English Definition

adj. rough or stern in manner or speech

中文释义

粗暴的

Significado en Español

áspero, brusco

한국어 뜻

거친, 무뚝뚝한

Nghĩa Tiếng Việt

thô lỗ, cộc cằn

Example Sentence

Despite his gruff voice, he is kind-hearted.

尽管他嗓音粗哑，但他心地善良。

Synonyms

brusque rough curt

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Practice — Synonym (ISEE Verbal)

Choose the best synonym for the word “gruff”:

A brusque
B warm
C cordial
D gentle

Show answer

A — brusque. “gruff” means adj. rough or stern in manner or speech

Practice — Sentence Completion (ISEE Verbal)

The ______ old sailor spoke to us in a low, rough, growling voice.

A gruff
B gentle
C warm
D sweet

Show answer

A — gruff. “gruff” means adj. rough or stern in manner or speech

Common questions about “gruff”

What does “gruff” mean?

gruff — adj. rough or stern in manner or speech. In Chinese: 粗暴的.

How do you pronounce “gruff”?

gruff is pronounced /ɡrʌf/. It breaks into 1 syllable: gruff.

How do you use “gruff” in a sentence?

Despite his gruff voice, he is kind-hearted. (尽管他嗓音粗哑，但他心地善良。)

What are synonyms for “gruff”?

brusque, rough, curt — all close in meaning to gruff (adj. rough or stern in manner or speech).

Is “gruff” an ISEE Basic-level word?

Yes. gruff appears on the iSEE Vocab Basic list, which covers 2445 words for the ISEE and SSAT.

Progress / 学习进度

888 / 2445

36% through this level

Mastered: 0 / 2445 (0%)

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gruff

Practice — Synonym (ISEE Verbal)

Practice — Sentence Completion (ISEE Verbal)

More Basic-level ISEE words

Common questions about “gruff”