6
severe(adjective, hard, severe, sharp, nasty)
6
tactless(adjective, open, sharp, rough, careless)
6
terse
5
acerbic(adjective, severe)
5
acid
5
austere(adjective, hard, severe, sharp, nasty)
5
bad-tempered(adjective, unpleasant, irritable, disagreeable, abrupt)
5
brief(adjective, open, rough, attitude, rude)
5
cool(adjective, severe, cold, negative, aloof)
5
cutting(adjective, severe)
5
frosty(adjective, severe, cold, negative, aloof)
5
glum(adjective, sorrow, depress, sadness, emotion)
5
grating(adjective, sound, severe, rough, low)
5
mournful(adjective, sorrow, depress, sadness, emotion)
5
querulous
5
snippy(adjective, open, direct, rough, honest)
5
splenetic(low, gloomy, melancholy, miserable, depressed)
5
tart(adjective, severe)
5
temperamental
5
truculent(adjective, rude, coarse, grumpy, abrupt)
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APASmart Define. (2016). gruff thesaurus. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/gruff/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "gruff thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/gruff/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, gruff thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/gruff/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "gruff thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 22 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/gruff/thesaurus/synonyms>