Entry Word: grim

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 harsh and threatening in manner or appearance <a grim and desolate landscape> <a grim and short-tempered shopkeeper who didnʼt exactly invite friendly conversation>

Synonyms austere, dour, fierce, flinty, forbidding, gruff, intimidating, lowering (also louring), rough, rugged, severe, stark, steely, stern, ungentle

Related Words bleak, cold, hostile, unfriendly; adamant, determined, firm, resolute, steadfast, unflinching; fixed, hard, immovable, implacable, inflexible, obdurate, rigid, set, stiff, unbending, uncompromising, unyielding; immutable, unchangeable; black, cheerless, dark, gloomy, glum, joyless, moody, morose, sulky, sullen, surly; brooding, grave, melancholy, serious, sober, solemn, somber (or sombre), unsmiling, weighty

Near Antonyms bland, meek, mellow, soft; easy, quiet, tranquil; agreeable, bright, cheerful, inviting, pleasant, pleasing, sweet; glad, happy, lighthearted, merry, mirthful, sunny; featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, light-headed, playful

Antonyms benign, benignant, gentle, mild, tender

2 difficult to endure <this winter is supposed to be particularly grim, so stock up on firewood> — see harsh 1
3 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> — see unyielding 1
4 violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition <grim warriors heading into battle> — see fierce 1