He spoke in a gruff voice that intimidated those around him.
gruff manner
Frequency:
70
%
His gruff manner often caused misunderstandings with others.
gruff exterior
Frequency:
65
%
Despite his gruff exterior, he was actually quite kind.
gruff appearance
Frequency:
50
%
His gruff appearance belied his gentle nature.
Idiomatic Expressions for gruff
Phrase: gruff voice
Meaning: a deep, rough, or harsh-sounding voice
Usage: The sergeant spoke in a gruff voice that commanded attention from his troops.