Definition

In a rough or unfriendly way, often used to describe how someone speaks or behaves.

Example

He answered the question gruffly, showing he was not in the mood for conversation.

Conversation

Why did he speak to you so gruffly yesterday?

I think he was just having a bad day, nothing personal.

That makes sense, but it still caught me off guard.

Yeah, sometimes people just express frustration in a gruff way.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gruffly → It is formed from "gruff" (from Middle English "gruf", meaning rough or harsh) and "-ly" (meaning in a manner of). The word "gruffly" means in a rough or harsh manner.

Memory Tip

Think of someone speaking in a 'rough' way ('gruff') — the '-ly' just means the manner in which they speak. This helps you remember that 'gruffly' describes a rough or harsh way of speaking.

Visually Confused Words