" gruffly "

1: as in curtly, brusquely;

•  Synonyms : 

•  abruptly,

•  bluntly,

•  brusquely,

•  curtly,

•  point-blank,

•  sharply,

•  artlessly,

•  earnestly,

•  simply,

•  sincerely,

•  impolitely,

•  inconsiderately,

•  rudely,

•  tactlessly,

•  baldly,

•  bluffly,

•  candidly,

•  frankly,

•  honestly,

•  openheartedly,

•  openly,

•  unguardedly,

•  unreservedly,

•  truthfully,

•  veraciously,

•  directly,

•  forthrightly,

•  foursquare,

•  plain,

•  plainly,

•  straight,

•  straightforward,

•  straightforwardly

•  Antonyms : 

•  long-windedly,

•  verbosely,

•  wordily,

•  civilly,

•  courteously,

•  diplomatically,

•  politely,

•  tactfully,

•  deceitfully,

•  mendaciously,

•  untruthfully,

•  erroneously,

•  fallaciously,

•  falsely,

•  hypocritically,

•  insincerely,

•  ambiguously,

•  circuitously,

•  equivocally,

•  evasively,

•  indirectly

2: as in grimly, determinedly;

•  Synonyms : 

•  aggressively,

•  assertively,

•  decidedly,

•  determinedly,

•  firmly,

•  grimly,

•  resolutely,

•  strongly,

•  toughly,

•  abusively,

•  brutishly,

•  savagely,

•  viciously,

•  callously,

•  cold-bloodedly,

•  hard-heartedly,

•  heartlessly,

•  inhumanely,

•  inhumanly,

•  insensately,

•  insensitively,

•  mercilessly,

•  obdurately,

•  pitilessly,

•  ruthlessly,

•  tyrannically,

•  uncharitably,

•  unfeelingly,

•  unmercifully,

•  unsparingly,

•  brutally,

•  hard,

•  hardly,

•  harshly,

•  ill,

•  oppressively,

•  roughly,

•  severely,

•  sternly,

•  stiffly

•  Antonyms : 

•  clemently,

•  gently,

•  leniently,

•  lightly,

•  mildly,

•  softly,

•  benevolently,

•  benignantly,

•  considerately,

•  cordially,

•  graciously,

•  kindly,

•  lovingly,

•  tenderly,

•  charitably,

•  compassionately,

•  humanely,

•  mercifully,

•  softheartedly,

•  sympathetically,

•  tolerantly,

•  understandingly

1: harsh and dry in sound;

  * e.g., " ... she had a gruff speaking voice, but a surprisingly sweet singing voice "

•  Synonyms : 

•  coarse,

•  croaking,

•  croaky,

•  grating,

•  gravel,

•  gravelly,

•  hoarse,

•  husky,

•  rasping,

•  raspy,

•  rusty,

•  scratchy,

•  throaty

•  Antonyms : 

•  benign,

•  benignant,

•  gentle,

•  mild,

•  nonintimidating,

•  tender

2: harsh and threatening in manner or appearance;

  * e.g., " ... I didn't exchange one word with the gruff mountaineer who sat next to me in the diner "

•  Synonyms : 

•  austere,

•  dour,

•  fierce,

•  flinty,

•  forbidding,

•  grim,

•  intimidating,

•  lowering,

•  rough,

•  rugged,

•  severe,

•  stark,

•  steely,

•  stern,

•  ungentle

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)