schroff
brusque
Describes a person's behavior that is curt, unfriendly, and rude.
EXAMPLE
Seine schroffe Art macht es schwer, mit ihm ins Gespräch zu kommen.
His brusque manner makes it hard to strike up a conversation with him.
schroff
brusque / rugged
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Meanings
schroff
rugged
Describes a landscape that is steep, rocky, and jagged.
EXAMPLE
Die schroffe Felsküste fiel steil ins Meer ab.
The rugged rocky coast dropped steeply into the sea.
schroff
stark
Describes a contrast or difference that is very strong, sudden, and harsh.
EXAMPLE
Der schroffe Gegensatz zwischen der lauten Stadt und der stillen Natur war beeindruckend.
The stark contrast between the noisy city and the quiet nature was impressive.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'schroff' depends on the noun it describes. If it refers to a person or their words, it means 'unfriendly'. If it describes a landscape, it means 'steep and rocky'. With abstract nouns like 'Gegensatz' (contrast), it means 'harsh and sudden'.
EXAMPLE
Er gab mir eine schroffe Antwort.
He gave me a brusque answer.
Typical combinations
When it is about unfriendly behavior, 'schroff' is often connected with communication. Typical phrases are 'eine schroffe Antwort' (a brusque answer), 'ein schroffer Ton' (a brusque tone), or the adverbial phrase 'jemanden schroff abweisen' (to reject someone brusquely).
EXAMPLE
Sein schroffer Tonfall hat mich sehr überrascht.
His brusque tone surprised me a lot.
Typical combinations
When describing landscapes, 'schroff' is often combined with geological features. Common combinations are 'schroffe Felsen' (rugged rocks), 'eine schroffe Bergwand' (a rugged mountain face), or 'eine schroffe Küste' (a rugged coast).
EXAMPLE
Die schroffen Felsen ragten aus dem Meer.
The rugged rocks jutted out of the sea.
Compare with
schroff vs krass
awesome / extreme
Both words can describe a very strong difference. “Krass” generally refers to a striking, extreme degree, while “schroff” also emphasizes a sudden and harsh contrast. “Schroff” is therefore especially suitable for an abrupt change between two states.
schroff
Der Unterschied zwischen den beiden Ergebnissen ist schroff.
The difference between the two results is stark.
krass
Der Unterschied zwischen den beiden Ergebnissen ist krass.
The difference between the two results is extreme.
In real life
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