1
as in brusquely
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2
as in grimly
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Recent Examples of gruffly
Chief among the familiar faces is Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the stoic, gruffly professional explosives-disposal expert Major Will Tranter, who shows up at a construction site in the heart of London where an unexploded, 1,000-pound WWII bomb has just been found.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruffly
Adverb
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In some instances, judges brusquely threw cases out of court after prosecutors walked in with little evidence.—
Brian Rokos,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
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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
Adverb
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The Olsen kiddos trying to close their front door to keep the sharks out is just as well-shot and grimly hilarious as Lisa readying to give birth as the floodwaters rise.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
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Innocence isn’t even about the recent past; statistically speaking, the grimly familiar scenes of mayhem might take place somewhere next week.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 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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April 20 – May 20 Your mood may be harder to hide when outside expectations press too firmly.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
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The Cardigan Once relegated to the back of office chairs as a precautionary layer, the cardigan has firmly reestablished itself as a key component of the modern work wardrobe.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Adverb
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Crime in Los Angeles fell sharply during Villaraigosa’s two terms.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The cost of supplies and operating expenses have risen sharply, putting pressure on profits.—
William Deffaa,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
Adverb
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The brand is strongly associated with its famous Champion sneaker, a low-profile, minimalist canvas shoe which was created in 1916.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
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There will be no parking on site, so organizers strongly encourage attendees to use CTA and Metra to get there.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Adverb
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The Ligue 1 clash between FC Nantes and Toulouse FC was abruptly abandoned.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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He was abruptly moved from the starting lineup to the bench on the eve of the regular-season opener, with coach Chris Finch wanting to put the ball in Anthony Edwards’ hands and give the younger Donte DiVincenzo an opportunity to start.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adverb
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The few street names in Happy Haven were determinedly upbeat, with Christian undertones.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
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Wall Street has been determinedly upbeat about the war in Iran resolving in a relatively short window.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gruffly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruffly. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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