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
Economic headlines have been grim recently.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, & Sons, for all its grim family in-fighting and accusations, is a film about legacy, identity, loss and love.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The set-up could easily slip into grim melodrama, but Jackman infuses it with a pop-tastic fun.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
With their glory days long gone, Gary Emerson and Horace Mann high schools represent blighted eyesores that conjure up nostalgia and grim realities.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Ultimately, & Sons, for all its grim family in-fighting and accusations, is a film about legacy, identity, loss and love.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The set-up could easily slip into grim melodrama, but Jackman infuses it with a pop-tastic fun.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
With their glory days long gone, Gary Emerson and Horace Mann high schools represent blighted eyesores that conjure up nostalgia and grim realities.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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Busta also received an assist from Papoose and Joyner Lucas, all of them sharing lyrical wordplay and seamless tradeoffs as Busta swung between his trademark dichotomy of rapping to gruff bellowing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Old Man was short and gruff and had chin whiskers.—
Robert Easton,
Outdoor Life,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The once-beloved pastels will become harsh.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
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The pilgrimage, listed on the official calendar of jubilee events, comes as gay Catholics look to Pope Leo XIV to continue down the bold path of his predecessor to welcome into the church a group that has in the past faced alienation and sometimes harsh treatment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Despite relentless political attacks and courtroom challenges, nearly all anti-DEI shareholder resolutions have failed, rejected by overwhelming margins at companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and Berkshire Hathaway.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Sep. 2025
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Where Welch pursued relentless growth and shareholder value maximization, Chouinard deliberately restrained Patagonia's expansion.—
Kyle Westaway,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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There was a time when loving someone of the wrong gender could result in harassment, arrest or a savage beating.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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From stern to bow, the boat was a lesson in restrained elegance, with plenty of teak wood and muted, calming shades.—
Rachel Wallace,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
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But after nabbing the part of the stern hotel manager Valentina in the second season of The White Lotus (2022), Impacciatore was launched into Hollywood fame.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That’s a tough dichotomy to bridge, but the new 2025 911 Carrera GTS achieves it brilliantly.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
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The tough stainless steel loops are reinforced and designed to remain rust-free even after years of use, and a three number combination lock will be easy to remember and difficult to crack.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The training highlighted how quickly multiple dangers can erupt at once, and how determined authorities are to prepare for the next flashpoint.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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According to several sources to RadarOnline, Prince William is determined to remove his uncle from the Firm.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So all of us were just young and hungry and had the energy to be ferocious.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
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In the pic, Garfield plays a legendary leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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