1
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a grim and desolate landscape a grim and short-tempered shopkeeper who didn't exactly invite friendly conversation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure
this winter is supposed to be particularly grim, so stock up on firewood
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3
as in relentless
showing no signs of slackening or yielding in one's purpose
with grim determination, the woman worked three jobs to put her fatherless children through college
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4
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
grim warriors heading into battle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grim
Located at an altitude of about 27,000 feet, Tshiring said the remains have become a grim waypoint for climbers ascending from the Tibetan side of the iconic mountain.
—
Simon Ellery,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The heroic death plays out almost as a footnote in an otherwise grim day at sea.
—
Josh Wigler,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
As grim as The Handmaid’s Tale could often be, its six-season story was ultimately about June and her fellow rebels resisting Gilead’s tyranny and fighting back against oppression.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Simon Ellery,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The heroic death plays out almost as a footnote in an otherwise grim day at sea.
—
Josh Wigler,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
As grim as The Handmaid’s Tale could often be, its six-season story was ultimately about June and her fellow rebels resisting Gilead’s tyranny and fighting back against oppression.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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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.
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
Adjective
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Plant magnolias somewhere they will be protected from harsh winds, especially when buds or flowers are developing.
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Most clarifying shampoos tend to be a little harsh and drying, but this one is gentle and nourishing.
Adjective
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Swiss brand On is rapidly disrupting Nike's long-standing dominance in the global running footwear market, alongside Hoka, by prioritizing relentless innovation over celebrity endorsements.
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The story of America is a story of industry, technical skill, and relentless optimism for what the future holds.
Adjective
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The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
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Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
Adjective
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Judges have to throw the book at those arrested to teach them a stern lesson.
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However, for students graduating right now, Hammer can't really summon up anything stern to say.
Adjective
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Summer 2026 is having a tough time deciding on this season’s dominating nail trend.
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These are typically low-wage jobs that the healthcare industry writ large has had a tough time recruiting for since the pandemic.
Adjective
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It was held just 22 years after the Great Chicago Fire devastated the city, but Chicago was determined to dominate the world stage.
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There was an element of cynicism, but not on the part of determined prosecutors who overcame obstacles and brought the case to guilty pleas by three defendants and the conviction on 21 counts of the public official who ignited the scandal.
Adjective
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Speaking of, Ross asked Janssen about the steamy bathhouse scene during which Xenia and Bond face off in an encounter that is both flirty and ferocious.
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In 2018, a blaze east of Athens moved with ferocious speed, killing more than 100 people.
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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