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Gritty comes from grit ("small hard granules"), which in turn derives, via Middle English, from an Old English word for "sand" or "gravel." Grit has been around since before the 12th century, but the first appearance of gritty in print in English was near the end of the 16th century, when it was used in the sense of "resembling or containing small hard granules." Grit entered American slang with the meaning "courage or persistence" in the early 19th century, and gritty followed suit with a corresponding "plucky" sense. By the 19th century's end, gritty was also being used to describe a literary style that was rough and coarse.
Examples of gritty in a Sentence
Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
Ginelli’s film highlights the gritty experience of refugees fleeing their homes, with the group forced to share basic toilet facilities and sleep nearly on top of one another.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Once a gritty Victorian-era mining town, Telluride has undergone a remarkable transformation into one of North America’s premier ski destinations without losing its authentic character.
—Charles Curkin, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
This design style jumps right out of Beetlejuice with its detailed architectural moldings, elaborate wallpaper, and gritty style.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gritty
Cite this Entry
“Gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gritty. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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