1
as in brusquely
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2
as in grimly
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruffly
Adverb
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The veil having been brusquely lifted from his eyes, Blair eventually left the service.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025 -
Gina remains loyal to Amy, who has at times treated her friend brusquely.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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During that time, a self-effacing marksman named Simo Häyhä, a sniper so grimly effective he was known and feared as the White Death, would prove invaluable to the Finns’ ability to hold off the Soviet advance.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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By this time, European leaders had become grimly familiar with friendly fire from their American ally.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The Yangs were called in and curtly told the judgment was being overturned, their lawsuit dismissed without trial.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The year is 1961, and the jazz legend (played flawlessly by Norway’s Anders Danielsen Lie) is firmly in the grip of a raging heroin addiction, having acquired a taste for the destructive street drug made inexplicably romantic in postwar boho circles.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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Rooted firmly in rock, her sound reflects inspiration from No Doubt and The Rolling Stones while maintaining a style that is distinctly her own.—
Kristen Wisneski,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Miami also bounced back sharply, jumping 82 percent to 40 sales, while London slipped to seventh place with just 35 deals.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
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If the states don’t reach a deal, federal officials could sharply cut Arizona’s water starting next year, and at that point, a lawsuit is likely, Buschatzke said.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
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Adding in these 20-year findings strongly suggests that engagement in cognitive training does no harm and may confer substantial benefit.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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McMullen left the company abruptly following an internal ethics investigation.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
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One of the most exciting playoff games in recent memory — a quarterback duel between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes — ended abruptly in a 42-36 Chiefs win when Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on an eight-yard touchdown pass.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Carreras scored the crucial opening goal, determinedly driving into the box and finishing in an individual flourish that unlocked the match in the 65th minute.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Miya’s landlord was able to remediate the restaurant’s building and Tewasart determinedly reopened in May, when at first there were few customers around to serve.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gruffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruffly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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