grim

adjective

ˈgrim How to pronounce grim (audio)
Definition of grimnext
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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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grim The chattiness of Eddy’s dispatches does little to conceal that the novel’s Jamaica is a grim place for gay men. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 At the beginning of the 20th century, the prevailing wisdom about raising children could be remarkably grim. — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Still, Twins players continue to hope despite the grim reality waiting right around the corner. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026 In the Christian tradition, these words are a grim warning of our transience, the vaporous substance of our lives. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
  1. gruff
  2. harsh
  3. relentless
  4. savage
  5. stern
  6. tough
  7. determined
  8. ferocious
Adjective
  • Pittsburgh was matched with Pete, the longtime rival of Mickey Mouse known for his gruff personality and larger-than-life presence.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • And this character archetype — a man with a gruff exterior but a good heart — would become a through-line for his career.
    — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruff
Adjective
  • Avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon, as well as harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, to protect the glaze.
    — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The frustration within the Democratic caucus immediately prompted some calls for harsh consequences.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The problem is that the action becomes so relentless, so explicitly gory, that a bad aftertaste sets in.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As for Jang Geon-young, the relentless prosecutor at the center of Season 1, his fate is left as a mystery.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of relentless
Adjective
  • Cole, who has to maneuver his way around 20 savage crew members, each of whom will need to be killed, doesn’t waste a homicidal movement.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The savage battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa had already demonstrated the ferocity with which Japanese forces would defend their homeland.
    — James M. Scott, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • Khan himself stars as the outwardly stern but inwardly soft-hearted Etienne, who heads up the dozen-strong medical team.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The almost 1,100-foot-long warship was covered in rust from bow to stern.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • Space-grade electronics will cost more, and the ball’s shell—made from a material tough enough to roll over steel shards and withstand minus 184 °C temperatures—has never been evaluated in lunar extremes.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Democratic leaders face tough decisions on where to spend limited party resources to win the Senate majority.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton were considered as options alongside Anderson and Bouaddi, but Fernandez was the player City were most determined to sign.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The kitchen is located in the new addition of the house, and Keys was determined to inject it with charm.
    — Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • Giamatti makes Jerry ferocious but not monstruous, a man who certainly likes barking orders at various underlings but loves making good theater even more.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Up to this point, Ghostface victims have been stabbed with Buck 120 hunting knives, crushed by garage doors, shot, electrocuted, and thrown off rooftops in ferocious, balls-to-the-wall Scream fashion.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of ferocious

Browse Nearby Words

grills
grim
grimace
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Cite this Entry

“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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