grim

adjective

ˈgrim 

grimmer; grimmest

1

: fierce in disposition or action : savage

grim wolves

2

a

: stern or forbidding in action or appearance

a grim taskmaster

b

: somber, gloomy

grim news of the disaster

3

: ghastly, repellent, or sinister in character

a grim tale

4

: unflinching, unyielding

grim determination

grimly adverb

grimness noun

Synonyms

• gruff
• stern
• fierce
• bleak
• rugged
• intimidating
• stark
• severe
• hostile
• forbidding
• rough

Examples of grim in a Sentence

Hikers made a grim discovery when they came across a dead body in the woods.

The accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.

The prognosis is grim—doctors do not expect her to live longer than six months.

He paints a grim picture of the prospects for peace.

His face looked grim, and we knew his news wouldn't be good.

Recent Examples on the Web

One evening in early 1944, four emaciated young women, attempting to rouse themselves from their grim prison conditions, began a secret performance of Beethoven’s Pathétique sonata in the cold and cramped barrack that also served as their dormitory, practice room, eating place and parcel depot. —Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025

To forgo vaccinations proven to prevent deadly and debilitating diseases is to accept the possibility of these grim outcomes—which parents haven’t had to think about for decades, as mass immunization has invisibly done its job. —Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025

Continue reading … MAHOMES MAGIC – NFL legend believes Chiefs will overcome early struggles despite grim playoff odds. —FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Massachusetts last year recorded fewer than 2,000 fatal overdoses, breaking a grim yearslong trend, Domb said. —State House News Service, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "fierce, savage, terrifying, repellent, violent, severe," going back to Old English grimm "fierce, savage, harsh, severe," going back to Germanic *grimma-, from earlier *gremma- (whence also Old Frisian grim, grem "fierce, severe, frightening," Old Saxon grimm "fierce, hostile, severe," Old High German grim, grimmi, Old Norse grimmr), adjective derivative from the base of *grimman- "to rage" (whence Old English & Old Saxon grimman "to rage," Old High German grimmen), probably going back to *ghrem-ne-, nasal present from an Indo-European verbal base *ghrem- "roar, rage," whence Avestan graməṇt- "raging," Greek chremetízein "to neigh, whinny," chrémisan "(they) neighed"; with zero-grade ablaut Old Church Slavic vŭzgrĭmě "thundered, roared," Lithuanian grumiù, grumė́ti "to roar, thunder"; with o-grade ablaut Germanic *gram- (whence Old English, Old Saxon & Old High German gram "angry, hostile, fierce," Old Norse gramr "anger," Old English gremman, gremian "to anger, enrage," Old High German gremmen, Old Norse gremja, Gothic gramjan), Old Church Slavic gromŭ "thunder," Greek chrómos, chrómē (Hesychius) "kind of noise, snorting, neighing," chrómados "grinding of jaws" (cf. chromis)

Note: The base *ghrem- is most likely of onomatopoeic origin, with different semantic developments in the Indo-European branch languages.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grim

• grim reaper

Rhymes for grim

• brim
• clim
• dim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim
• scrim

Kids Definition

grim

adjective

ˈgrim 

grimmer; grimmest

1

: cruel sense 2, fierce

2

a

: stern in action or appearance

b

: dismal sense 1

grim news

c

: depressed

3

: frightful sense 1

a grim tale

4

: unflinching, unyielding

grim determination

grimly adverb

grimness noun