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
One evening in early 1944, four emaciated young women, attempting to rouse themselves from their grim prison conditions, began a secret performance of Beethoven’s Pathétique sonata in the cold and cramped barrack that also served as their dormitory, practice room, eating place and parcel depot.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
To forgo vaccinations proven to prevent deadly and debilitating diseases is to accept the possibility of these grim outcomes—which parents haven’t had to think about for decades, as mass immunization has invisibly done its job.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … MAHOMES MAGIC – NFL legend believes Chiefs will overcome early struggles despite grim playoff odds.
—FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Park rangers made the grim discovery in an inaccessible area of the park near McDonald Drive and Tatum Boulevard, police said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
To forgo vaccinations proven to prevent deadly and debilitating diseases is to accept the possibility of these grim outcomes—which parents haven’t had to think about for decades, as mass immunization has invisibly done its job.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … MAHOMES MAGIC – NFL legend believes Chiefs will overcome early struggles despite grim playoff odds.
—FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Park rangers made the grim discovery in an inaccessible area of the park near McDonald Drive and Tatum Boulevard, police said.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
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The barbs were frequently aimed at the gruff owner of Mel’s Diner played by the late Vic Tayback.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These findings highlight an urgent need to shield stem cells from the harsh realities of space.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
20 Sep. 2025
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Rain is coming, penciled in for an hour or two from now, and a harsh British wind is flinging leaves off branches and cloaking the countryside with something that smells dungy and damp.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In this state, space expands at a relentless, exponential pace, doubling in size in all three dimensions in just a tiny fraction of a second, and then doubling again and again and again with each subsequent fraction of a second that elapses.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
16 Sep. 2025
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Wedding Dashers features a maid of honor and best man forced to hurdle relentless transportation nightmares together to make it from London to Belfast in time for their dearests’ nuptials.—
Jamie Harrow,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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My father was a thirty-two-year-old tank commander who had crossed to occupied France shortly after D-Day, fought in the savage battle for Caen and then on through northern France.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
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This thrilling prequel stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Alyla Browne as young Furiosa, who is abducted by the savage warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) — leader of the Biker Horde — and spends the next decade in captivity plotting her revenge and escape.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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From one side, draped in a dark-blue robe and flanked by an entourage in matching work shirts, Joe Frazier walked slowly through the crowd, stern and granite-jawed.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Not even the most stern calls to sit down could keep the crowds away, as production staff tried to pave a path for fellow front row faces like rapper Glorilla, Charles Melton, Celtics player Jayson Tatum — who was sidelined late last season with an injury — Elle Fanning, and more.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Red Rocketeers were looking to bounce back after a tough loss against King Phillip, but the opponent was strong.—
Zachary McMahon,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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Lee described the rookies as tough competitors who displayed a championship mentality during their run to the summer league championship.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Their injuries were later determined to not be life threatening, according to court documents.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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In the movie, White is determined to take Cade to that point, and break him.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On Monday afternoon, a few hours before the first ferocious attacks of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City made buildings tremble as far away as Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Jerusalem for an economics conference.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
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The array of ferocious brushstrokes, scratches, and painterly drips amplify the complex dialogue, inviting the viewer’s interpretation.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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