gruff

His “gruff” father had little time for such infantilizing obeisance and would resist as best he could.

Unlike the gruff, barky impressions lots of comedians were doing at the time, Johnson’s had a flow.

In a new role as JV defensive coordinator, he deployed his gruff but humor-infused brand of coaching while welcoming a group of incoming ninth-graders to the program.

A supporting Emmy for his performance as the gruff yet insightful therapist Paul Rhoades on Apple TV+’s comedy “Shrinking” would be a good start.

The many women who have fallen for the alluring words of a gruff European probably understand the appeal of a man who says what a woman needs to hear.