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
Inquisitiveness and grit should be encouraged regardless of age. — Eric Francia, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Johnson Products Company — which would later go on to manufacture Ultra Sheen, Classy Curl, Curly Perm and men’s cologne line Black Tie — was made from humble beginnings, grit and a revolutionary product idea. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Verb
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 But the show wouldn’t have worked without Smart, who imbued Deborah with wisdom and weariness, grit and glamour. — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 29 May 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
  • At their best, natural leaders with the courage to take on what others won’t.
    — Christina Pérez, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Its concluding images emphasise a clichéd concept of motherhood, as though to put a neat bow on what was in fact a more complex story of trust, patience and everyday courage.
    — Elena Lazic, Variety, 15 July 2026
Definition of courage
Verb
  • The tool scrapes third-party sources to compile additional information and context about individual tracks.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
  • Firms have been scraping Truth Social data for months, in violation of TMTG’s terms of ⁠service, ​according to a spokesperson.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 16 July 2026
Definition of scrape
Noun
  • They were blown away by his focus, drive, mentality and fortitude.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 10 July 2026
  • In one particular test, participants were submerged in a sensory deprivation tank, a test meant to measure a participant's mental fortitude.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of fortitude
Verb
  • Gypsum can also be applied around the plants at a rate of about 5 pounds per 100 square feet and carefully scratched into the soil.
    — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
  • Older dogs stiffen up, scratch more, lose a step, and their owners want to help.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of scratch
Noun
  • The slave women are spared, and, after witnessing Odysseus’ bravery, many of the suitors stop fighting and bend the knee to their rightful king.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Howard-Smith noted some of the standout stories from fire dog history, where Dalmatians became known for their loyalty, bravery and larger-than-life personalities.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Definition of bravery
Verb
  • The bones were ground up into bone ash, used as fertilizer, and burned to make bone black, used both as a dye and a filter for cane sugar juice.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 July 2026
  • The performers grind and moan as rain pours from above and a wind machine roars.
    — Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of grind
Noun
  • Being on the road for five months requires the same kind of stamina as being an athlete.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • In a 2024 survey of third-to-eighth-grade teachers, more than 80 percent said that their students’ reading stamina had declined since 2019.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 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 21 Jul. 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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