gruff

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Stout and slightly gruff, Dipper has a digital face that can approximate more than 40 expressions.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

While the Silk Sonic project, from its name on down, is a tribute to the lush textures of ’70s soul, Mr. .Paak’s occasionally gruff presence brings a touch of hip-hop to the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Sullivan—a gruff Irish-Catholic variety-show host who could make or break careers—dropped a folder on the table, a dossier of FBI and press clippings, and asked bluntly:

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

Carpenter is a gruff but approachable 77 these days, his career as a film director receding in the rearview.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

When I asked him to direct me toward Seventeenth Street, he shoved a Public Ledger at me and pointed west with a gruff bark.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan