gruff

/ɡɹˈʌf/

/ˈɡɹəf/

gruff

deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion

synonyms : hoarse

brusque and surly and forbidding

synonyms : crusty

Examples

1. DMX's gruff, brutal veneer shielded his thoughtfulness and humor from the world.

2. He's gruff.

3. Berta's gruff exterior was an invention of the writers.

4. A one-time boxer and a veteran of the Vietnam War, actor Paul Le Mat made a career out of playing gruff, rugged male characters.