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
The long-term implications of these barriers could be grim, especially because more than half of the country’s postdoc scholars in science, technology, engineering and math, and around a third of the country’s graduate students, are visa holders.
—
Nara Parameswaran, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of us at City Hall also have been banging our heads against the wall about it, but the situation is more grim than most Chicagoans realize.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Her grim discovery ensures Toya will meet the same fate, and in the last episode, as the murderer escapes through the window, Hole discovers the killer’s final victim in the bathroom, tied by her neck to the shower.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
And yet, the picture heading into April is not entirely grim.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Nara Parameswaran, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Many of us at City Hall also have been banging our heads against the wall about it, but the situation is more grim than most Chicagoans realize.
—Bill Conway, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Her grim discovery ensures Toya will meet the same fate, and in the last episode, as the murderer escapes through the window, Hole discovers the killer’s final victim in the bathroom, tied by her neck to the shower.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
And yet, the picture heading into April is not entirely grim.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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As Liborio, an orphan who risked his life to cross the border and ended up living in the attic of a bookstore thanks to the kindness of the gruff owner, Chief (Eddie Marsan), the actor plays a narrator who consistently breaks the fourth wall.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His team, which includes his advisor Atsushi Shirane and Masaya Miyahara of Japan’s High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), is aiming to develop a wireless system for controlling robots in this harsh environment.—
Katherine Bourzac,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Items that are wind-resistant and waterproof will be good for use in many harsh weather conditions in which the user would need protection.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The relentless heat, which has shattered monthly high temperature records, has caused the mountain snowpack to virtually vanish from California’s Sierra Nevadas all the way to the Colorado Rockies.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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Iran's grip on the strait and relentless attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have sent Brent crude, the international standard, up more than 40% since the war started.—
JON GAMBRELL AND DAVID RISING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
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Conan O'Brien hit almost every note on Sunday — savage, playful, heartfelt and dumb.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Some of the movie is an acid satire of pre-wedding rituals — like the first dance that Charlie and Emma are dutifully rehearsing for, with a ridiculously stern taskmaster of a coach.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
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Born in Michigan, Tolkan served in the Navy before studying at the Actors Studio, eventually becoming Hollywood’s go-to stern authority figure for decades.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Two sisters in Big Bear are facing one of the toughest moments in their lives.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It was later determined that those two residents were not at home at the time of the fire, Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Yet Americans remained determined, patient, and optimistic — committed to defeating evil.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Italy happens to be in similarly ferocious form, however, and has won seven of its last eight, albeit losing twice in as many encounters with qualifying group winner Norway last year.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Despite Iran’s remarkably ferocious response across the region – attacking neighbors like Oman who days earlier mediated between Tehran and Washington - weeks of intense airstrikes against its cities and military has not magically left it a hundred feet tall.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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