nitty-gritty
noun
nit·ty-grit·ty
ˌni-tē-ˈgri-tē 
ˈni-tē-ˌgri-
: what is essential and basic : specific practical details
get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem
nitty-gritty
adjective
Examples of nitty-gritty in a Sentence
the governor tends to leave the nitty-gritty of running the state government to others
a look at the nitty-gritty aspects of putting out a newspaper
Recent Examples on the Web
While Druski is the mastermind behind the video, the Picasso responsible for that perfect blend of white makeup, fake tattoos, and farmer’s tan is Georgia makeup artist Kaylee Kehne-Swisher, who specializes in everything from commercial touchups and makeovers to nitty-gritty film special effects.
—
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
For now, the main hurdles are more mundane, related to nitty-gritty logistics of a startup bank in an industry suited to mega-banks.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
LeAnn Rimes dove deep into some nitty-gritty topics in her Flow Space cover story published Monday (July 7), from the precarious beginnings of her relationship with husband Eddie Cibrian to the dental issues that led to her teeth falling out mid-concert in a viral moment last month.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 July 2025
But the movie doesn’t provide much nitty-gritty on how Vera develops as an entrepreneur beyond speaking in English and pretending to be calling from London.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
Ask them about their experience and absorb every nitty-gritty detail.
—Lucie Hanes, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2025
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Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
For now, the main hurdles are more mundane, related to nitty-gritty logistics of a startup bank in an industry suited to mega-banks.
—Ann Rutledge, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
LeAnn Rimes dove deep into some nitty-gritty topics in her Flow Space cover story published Monday (July 7), from the precarious beginnings of her relationship with husband Eddie Cibrian to the dental issues that led to her teeth falling out mid-concert in a viral moment last month.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 July 2025
But the movie doesn’t provide much nitty-gritty on how Vera develops as an entrepreneur beyond speaking in English and pretending to be calling from London.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
Ask them about their experience and absorb every nitty-gritty detail.
—Lucie Hanes, Outside Online, 18 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nitty-gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitty-gritty. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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