grit 1 of 2

noun

ˈgrit How to pronounce grit (audio)
Definition of gritnext
as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship she was an athlete with true grit, continuing her training despite bad weather and an injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grit

2 of 2

verb

as in to scrape
to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound the crash victim gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 grit
Noun
Grunts and grit are still worth something in this game, though. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 His voice has weathered over the years, but that only added character to songs built on grit and honesty. — Jamie Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Verb
When my grandchildren were around recently, Marie was gritting her teeth because her nerves were so frayed. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 7 June 2026 Renegade is a closer, and Pletcher has been open about how much grit his horse showed in the Derby, righting himself to run a game second after suffering a few bumps in the early traffic. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grit
  1. courage
  2. scrape
  3. fortitude
  4. scratch
  5. bravery
  6. grind
  7. stamina
  8. spunk
Noun
  • Hair braiding 101 Armed with a glass of cold liquid courage and an arsenal of hair elastics and barrettes, dads paired up with one of Strands Aveda’s stylists to learn their daughter’s hairstyle of choice.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In Aries, the taskmaster’s lessons are centered around independence, initiative and the courage to take the lead.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of courage
Verb
  • Bourdain was doing all of the grunt work at the Flagship, scrubbing pots and pans, scraping plates, peeling potatoes, and cleaning shrimp.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • After two lawsuits were filed against the state over the cut to the program, lawmakers scraped together funding to bring it back this legislative session.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrape
Noun
  • But, deciding to still move forward with their round of golf knowing the boss would find out at some point took fortitude.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The five points of the star represent the characteristics of a good citizen, which are fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of fortitude
Verb
  • After the bullpen had to cover all nine innings Saturday when Griffin Jax was scratched from a scheduled start due to elbow discomfort, Seymour worked six solid innings, allowing a first-inning run and nothing else.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Many scratched their heads when the Codex Micro was announced.
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of scratch
Noun
  • That employee survived and was hailed for his bravery by law enforcement at Friday’s news conference.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The teen’s twin sister, Justice Greer, praised her sister’s bravery in her final moments.
    — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bravery
Verb
  • People use it to make industrial tools such as drill bits and grinding wheels for heavy machinery.
    — Robin Macaluso, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Russia’s war on Ukraine has become a grinding tally of raw numbers, and Kyiv is executing its strategy with the ruthlessness of a corporate efficiency expert, according to the RAND think tank.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • The stamina required to rehearse and perform shows that involve pivoting, marching, carrying large instruments, running, and more can burn more calories than an elliptical workout.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Building the habit That decision-making stamina doesn’t have to come from anywhere complicated.
    — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of stamina
Noun
  • But Alcock is no John Wayne or Jeff Bridges, and Ridley lacks the spunk of Kim Darby and Hailee Steinfeld.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 June 2026
  • These small, high-energy pups have plenty of spunk and a big heart.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 11 June 2026
Definition of spunk

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Cite this Entry

“Grit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grit. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grit

Nglish: Translation of grit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grit

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