1. brusque and surly and forbidding (Freq. 1) - crusty remarks - a crusty old man - his curmudgeonly temper - gruff manner - a gruff reply • Syn: crusty, curmudgeonly, ill-humored, ill-humoured • Similar to: ill-natured • Derivationally related forms: gruffness, curmudgeon (for: curmudgeonly), crust (for: crusty) 2. deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion (Freq. 1) - gruff voices - the dog's gruff barking - hoarse cries - "makes all the instruments sound powerful but husky"- Virgil Thomson • Syn: hoarse, husky • Similar to: cacophonous, cacophonic • Derivationally related forms: huskiness (for: husky), hoarseness (for: hoarse), gruffness
