ungentle

adjective

ˌən-ˈjen-tᵊl How to pronounce ungentle (audio)
Definition of ungentlenext
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance a demanding and ungentle land that was not for the fainthearted

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ungentle Notes From an Apocalypse is a gentle argument for coming to terms with the precarity of life, published in a moment where people are facing its fragility in an immediate and ungentle context. — Kate Knibbs, Wired, 16 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungentle
  1. gruff
  2. stern
  3. grim
  4. fierce
  5. intimidating
  6. rugged
  7. hostile
  8. severe
Adjective
  • Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • England, which has been patchy so far, poses the sternest test yet for the co-hosts.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 July 2026
  • With upcoming opponents Croatia providing a sterner test in possession, Portugal’s defensive display will be under greater scrutiny.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • If Boltanski’s work recalls Saarland’s grim past, Regenera, by another French artist, Benjamin Duquenne, points toward a hopeful future.
    — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
  • White detailed a bizarre, almost miraculous weather event that saved the outdoor fight night just as things looked grim.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of grim
Adjective
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The Pride and Angel City have established a fierce rivalry in their short history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • The caps, made from real bear skin, are a distinctive part of the military uniform, designed to make troops appear taller and more intimidating.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • The one witness everyone in the courtroom remembers was Watkins, an intimidating presence with the build of an NFL defensive tackle.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
Definition of intimidating
Adjective
  • California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores.
    — Alex Wigglesworth Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026
  • California is returning a stretch of rugged Mendocino County coast to the Indigenous nations whose ancestors once stewarded its shores.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of rugged
Adjective
  • And until a Black commentator is held responsible for making openly hostile remarks about White people, nothing will change.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • For example, in March, the crypto exchange Kraken put its multibillion‑dollar IPO on hold amid hostile market conditions, according to CoinDesk.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • Ruffian, racing on the lead, sustains a severe leg injury and is pulled up by jockey Jacinto Vasquez.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The incident occurred on Sunday, July 5, near the front entrance of the Austell theme park after severe weather hit the area, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
    — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of severe

Browse Nearby Words

ungenteel
ungentle
ungentlemanly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ungentle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungentle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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