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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Located at an altitude of about 27,000 feet, Tshiring said the remains have become a grim waypoint for climbers ascending from the Tibetan side of the iconic mountain.
—
Simon Ellery,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The heroic death plays out almost as a footnote in an otherwise grim day at sea.
—
Josh Wigler,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
As grim as The Handmaid’s Tale could often be, its six-season story was ultimately about June and her fellow rebels resisting Gilead’s tyranny and fighting back against oppression.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Simon Ellery,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The heroic death plays out almost as a footnote in an otherwise grim day at sea.
—
Josh Wigler,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
As grim as The Handmaid’s Tale could often be, its six-season story was ultimately about June and her fellow rebels resisting Gilead’s tyranny and fighting back against oppression.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
Adjective
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White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.
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Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.
Adjective
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Swiss brand On is rapidly disrupting Nike's long-standing dominance in the global running footwear market, alongside Hoka, by prioritizing relentless innovation over celebrity endorsements.
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The story of America is a story of industry, technical skill, and relentless optimism for what the future holds.
Adjective
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The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
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Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
Adjective
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England, which has been patchy so far, poses the sternest test yet for the co-hosts.
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With upcoming opponents Croatia providing a sterner test in possession, Portugal’s defensive display will be under greater scrutiny.
Adjective
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MacDonald agrees that some of Kiros' positions could put Democratic candidates in a tough spot.
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The 34 measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees' sick leave and a reduction of the country's stifling bureaucracy.
Adjective
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All etched into the face of a man who spent his presidency fighting to hold together a nation that seemed determined to tear itself apart.
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Well, Ariana seems to remember, whereas Hudson is determined to just undo the breakup and pretend like none of it ever happened.
Adjective
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Speaking of, Ross asked Janssen about the steamy bathhouse scene during which Xenia and Bond face off in an encounter that is both flirty and ferocious.
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In 2018, a blaze east of Athens moved with ferocious speed, killing more than 100 people.
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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