gritty

adjective

Definition of grittynext
1
as in unflinching

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in sandy

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in vivid

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 gritty Behind the scenes, this gritty, impoverished circus company wrestles with violence, illness and animal cruelty. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Reaching for gritty scrubs or scratchy tools at night can make the problem worse. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Good for Brooks, who became the heart and soul of the team last season because of his on-and-off the court leadership and gritty play. — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Of all the superheroes to give the gritty realism treatment, the Green Lantern is an odd choice. — Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gritty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gritty
  1. unflinching
  2. sandy
  3. vivid
  4. plucky
  5. earthy
  6. expressive
  7. resolute
  8. gravelly
Adjective
  • The documentary American Doctor is an intimate and unflinching look at the decimated healthcare system in Gaza under Israeli assault.
    — Leila Fadel, NPR, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Tobe Hooper’s original film is arguably the best artistic achievement that the genre has ever seen, boasting an unflinching portrayal of brutality that holds up to this day.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of unflinching
Adjective
  • Old chose slate floors for the kitchen to stand up to sandy feet and paws.
    — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Golf carts dart around the island to drop guests at various outlets, but pathways are sandy, and there are steps to most of the restaurants, though beach rooms are all at floor level.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sandy
Adjective
  • Its most vivid life may be long gone, but should it be preserved — the rich history and the nostalgia?
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • His writing and characterization is so dark, vivid, and interesting.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • Hong Kong — There’s a plucky little Qing Dynasty artifact that at first glance looks out of place among China’s many Forbidden City treasures.
    — Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Hayden — plucky and determined and perfectionist, spending hours practicing her skating and utterly focused on getting every acting take spot-on and truthful.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of plucky
Adjective
  • Wood structures and natural textures sit easily against the surrounding greenery, giving the site an earthy look that photographs differently from a festival surrounded by concrete.
    — Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In the sunroom, custom sofas wrapped in earthy Dedar shades are equal parts elegant and inviting.
    — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of earthy
Adjective
  • This means, after the messenger planet’s bold and expressive journey through Leo, the focus moves away from creative and dramatic declarations (Leo) to a desire for productivity and grounding in the realm of communication.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Plus, Deep Rooted is versatile enough to pair with soft neutrals, expressive blues, and calming greens.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of expressive
Adjective
  • Still, co-founder and CEO Adam Taubenfligel remains resolute.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That approach has totted up 38 unbeaten matches and created a resolute backline – another key trait of almost all World Cup winners – through pragmatism-by-possession.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee — who’s been honored for his work as a solo artist and a member of Faces — is known for belting out ballads and rock numbers through an unmistake gravelly voice.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When listening to McElligott’s radio call, Blue Jackets fans could hear an unspoken homage to Penguins legendary broadcaster Mike Lange, whose gravelly goal calls and distinct, quirky catchphrases thrilled listeners.
    — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of gravelly

Browse Nearby Words

gritting
gritty
grizzle
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gritty. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All