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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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
However, the support crews would meet the same, grim fate.
—
Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Within hours, markets recoiled, and prediction platforms began pricing in a grim new outlook.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
The set may have been filled with an eerie tension on camera, but behind the scenes, the tone was anything but grim.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
This is a rather grim history of dictatorship, punctuated by violence, yet today South Korea has a functioning democracy under the rule of law.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
Within hours, markets recoiled, and prediction platforms began pricing in a grim new outlook.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
The set may have been filled with an eerie tension on camera, but behind the scenes, the tone was anything but grim.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
This is a rather grim history of dictatorship, punctuated by violence, yet today South Korea has a functioning democracy under the rule of law.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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This was the puzzle: The Torch and the Treasure A Bridge Puzzle of Strategy, Speed... and Stolen Gold Five daring fantasy thieves—a nimble Elf, a sneaky Goblin, a fleet-footed Satyr, a gruff Dwarf, and a hulking Troll—have just pulled off the heist of the century.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Could this gruff old man playing mahjong in a nondescript hall be a curious gambler on the last boat up the Mekong, laughing in the face of Edward’s existential crisis?—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Hope reigns even in this harsh political climate we Americans are now experiencing.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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Several previous town halls gave a platform to politically damaging attacks on GOP lawmakers over Trump’s policies and especially the harsh cuts in government agencies engineered by billionaire first buddy Elon Musk.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This dedication serves as the driving force behind every donation, propelling us forward in our relentless pursuit of progress in cancer research.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2025
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After Cooper Flagg knocked down a pair of free throws at the 11:54 mark to give the Blue Devils a 56-42 lead, Houston stormed back with a relentless 28-11 run to complete a stunning rally and punch their ticket to the title game.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2022
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As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.—
Tom Yulsman,
Discover Magazine,
27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Ars Technica: One of the most visually arresting images from James Cameron's blockbuster film Titanic was the ship's stern sticking straight up out of the water after breaking apart from the bow.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
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Leeds also drive some of the sternest vitriol along opponents’ terraces.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Over the next two years, Muhammad rang up five more victories against progressively tougher competition.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The new legislation would also apply tougher scrutiny to the process of acquiring a conflict of interest waiver for this kind of work.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nick, now focused on his role as the heir to his grandfather’s empire, and Noah, just beginning to build her own career, are determined to keep their distance, despite their undeniable attraction and the past that connects them.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Is this morally corrupt crowd determined to ignore constitutional obligations rather than ever admit a mistake?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There’s scenario No. 1: Either Carter, a ferocious All-American pass rusher, or Hunter, a generational wide receiver-cornerback hybrid, is available, and the Patriots can add a premium talent at a position of need in what can only be described as a front-office dream.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
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In other words, if Instagram had even somewhat appeared as a future threat to Facebook or Facebook’s competition, there would have been a ferocious bidding war for Instagram that would have pushed its purchase price far, far above $1 billion.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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