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
-
Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
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The barbs were frequently aimed at the gruff owner of Mel’s Diner played by the late Vic Tayback.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
From one side, draped in a dark-blue robe and flanked by an entourage in matching work shirts, Joe Frazier walked slowly through the crowd, stern and granite-jawed.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Not even the most stern calls to sit down could keep the crowds away, as production staff tried to pave a path for fellow front row faces like rapper Glorilla, Charles Melton, Celtics player Jayson Tatum — who was sidelined late last season with an injury — Elle Fanning, and more.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The facial expressions match the show’s grim color palette.—
Will Collins,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Now they are being called on by their leader to adapt to a grim reality of military might.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the face of fierce opposition, Lyles supported bringing the Republican National Convention to Charlotte in 2020 — standing on her commitment to represent the entire city as mayor.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In Paradise Bay, competition is fierce to attract high-end clientele and the standout offering at Maxx Royal is its two-story, 5,750-square-meter spa.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fighting off predators, fending for food, and living in rugged terrain with harsh conditions – this was not a means of living for the weak.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Limited access and steep rugged terrain will continue to hamper suppression.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Is this event also a way to make World and the Orb feel more approachable and less intimidating to the public, especially those skeptical of getting their eyes scanned?—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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For starters, the Nittany Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium, which can be an intimidating place with seating for 106,572 fans.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The team's away record is also impressive, with two wins and one draw, showcasing its ability to perform under pressure in hostile environments.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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More than thirty signs referencing racial discrimination and the hostile attitudes of white people to those who were formerly enslaved will come down or be partially covered.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Responding firefighters discovered Maureen in the living room with severe burns, a fractured larynx and soot in her airway, the DA's office said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Stroud isn’t blameless in the Texans’ severe pass-protection issues dating to last year.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ungentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungentle. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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