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
Charlotte is on pace to once again surpass last year’s grim numbers, with 24 fatalities reported so far by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 2026.
—
Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Other people, though, feel that comedy isn’t the arena to discuss such grim realities, with at least 78 school shootings reported in the United States last year, according to CNN.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Some analysts have predicted a particularly grim Q1 2026.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
And the labor market just looks increasingly grim and feels increasingly grim to younger workers.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Other people, though, feel that comedy isn’t the arena to discuss such grim realities, with at least 78 school shootings reported in the United States last year, according to CNN.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Some analysts have predicted a particularly grim Q1 2026.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
And the labor market just looks increasingly grim and feels increasingly grim to younger workers.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 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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The lawyers also argue that Combs' sentence was too harsh, saying the trial judge wrongly based it in part on a conclusion that the crimes involved fraud and coercion and that Combs was a leader or organizer of criminal activity.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Focused on a 2021 expedition in which Icelandic climber John Snorri Sigurjónsson and the Pakistani father-and-son team Ali and Sajid Sadpara attempt to become the first to summit K2 in winter, when conditions are at their harshest.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Their best defense in the opening period Saturday was a relentless, sustained attack that resulted in a 1-0 lead midway through the first.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
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Each character was sustained through market cycles, leadership changes, and the relentless churn of digital disruption because the companies understood that the franchise, not the campaign, was the unit of value.—
Stuart N. Brotman,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The famed African American journalist investigated lynchings across the South and wrote about the savage incidents that the white press had already explained away.—
Case Thorp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The book’s playful interrogation of traditional gender expectations is sharpened with the introduction of 1855 Caleb, a fantasy and a nightmare, a stern, quiet man who Natalie finds both terrifying and alluring.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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The problems surfaced in February, prompting a stern letter from the airport to the software provider, which has been paid about $5 million since 2019 to upgrade and operate the payment system and equipment for MIA’s parking garages.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
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One factor is that the Highlanders, a Division 3 team, haven’t faced the toughest schedule.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Santa Monica Pier was temporarily evacuated on Saturday afternoon as police investigated what was determined to be a non-credible bomb threat.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The determined plant can grow in many conditions, including sun or shade and wet or dry soil, displacing native species, disrupting local ecosystems, and even degrading riverbanks.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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Otters are part of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which includes some of nature’s most ferocious pint-sized predators, such as badgers, martens, and wolverines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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