as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a demanding and ungentle land that was not for the fainthearted
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Recent Examples of ungentle
But going back to trying to be gentle in ungentle times.
—
Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2020
Notes From an Apocalypse is a gentle argument for coming to terms with the precarity of life, published in a moment where people are facing its fragility in an immediate and ungentle context.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 16 Apr. 2020
Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2020
Notes From an Apocalypse is a gentle argument for coming to terms with the precarity of life, published in a moment where people are facing its fragility in an immediate and ungentle context.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 16 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungentle
Adjective
-
Wild Cards is a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
-
So did Paul Mescal, previously considered a lock, in best supporting actor for his portrayal of a gruff William Shakespeare.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Off the ice, Knies speaks with a sterner tone at times, with his injury likely weighing on him.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz, nonetheless, issued a stern warning.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Job prospects for 2026 are looking grim in many ways.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tempted but reluctant to fork out the money, Hana runs some tests on the drug, and finds — in what one hopes is just a grim horror-film twist — that its composition comes down pretty much entirely to human ashes.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Those funds are caught in a fierce battle over Democratic proposals, now backed by some Republicans, to impose limits on the behavior of the ICE agents whose aggressive tactics in Minneapolis have left protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti dead.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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Game director Cary Trzcinski made sure emotions did not boil over and lead to a melee, sticking his thick body and fierce game face into one brewing moment in the second half.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Because a microneedle infusion device can feel more intimidating than a simple serum, Mon Lumière prioritizes education and reassurance.—
William Jones
January 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Closet organization is often seen as an intimidating, hours-long task that can feel redundant once the mess piles back up again.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Excavators working at a rugged eastern Oregon ranch recently uncovered evidence of Chinese immigrants working as cowboys — a role rarely associated with the American West.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Inspired by Montana’s rugged landscape, Grant Achatz of Michelin two-star Alinea in Chicago chose Big Sky for his restaurant’s 20th-anniversary world tour (Tokyo, Beverly Hills, Brooklyn, and Miami were also stops).—
Amy Tara Koch,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His 134 men were armed with musket, cartridge pouch, and sword in case of a hostile encounter, and the Africaansche Galey lay close by with a couple of small cannon brought forward on the bow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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The broader goal, Rubio said, is a prosperous Venezuela aligned with the United States and no longer serving as a hub for hostile foreign powers.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In high doses, etizolam can cause severe central nervous system depression, potentially leading to unconsciousness, respiratory failure and death.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Kyiv, which has grappled with severe power shortages this winter, is forecast to enter a brutally cold stretch starting Friday that is expected to last into next week.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ungentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungentle. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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