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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
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025
While the Cowboys’ playoff hopes still dangle by a thread, Prescott says the dramatic and gritty manner of Sunday’s win bodes well for the rest of the season.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
For shelving or partitions that aren't removable, get gritty with it.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
Despite the high-wattage payoff, the texture is anything but gritty.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Nov. 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 26 Nov. 2025.
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