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grit

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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
At Climb Fest 2025, The North Face transformed the city into a proving ground where the sublime grit of climbing culture met the pop-up electricity of a festival. Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025 Sarah Cracknell’s voice is tempered with a touch of honeyed grit, but has lost none of of its ability to convey the bittersweet aftertaste of romantic loss. Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
That would further raise costs, insurers say, because people who are less healthy are more likely to grit their teeth and reenroll, leaving insurers with a smaller, but sicker, pool of members. Kff Health News, Oc Register, 18 July 2025 Consider Alex’s final audition — a now-iconic sequence that collapses grit and glam into a single, pulsating montage. arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for grit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grit
Noun
  • Ironically, the very adaptability and intellectual courage the future demands are often harder to cultivate in today’s college climate.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In an atmosphere of repression and fear, these women discover courage, solidarity, and the power of imagination through the simple transformative act of reading together.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The product scrapes the insect, removing oils and fats from the outside of the insect's body.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • To add details, etch swooping lines around the holes by scraping away the pumpkin's outer skin to create contrast.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The grittiness of this powder can cause the stone to lose its shine or have permanent scratches.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Aronofsky has, since the grittiness of Pi and Requiem for a Dream, flitted with alacrity from genre to genre, trying his hand at biblical epics (Noah) and claustrophobic dramas (The Whale).
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • That 133-page City audit barely scratched the surface of the overall dysfunction at the City’s animal shelter.
    Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • But these figures only scratch the surface of Nepal’s deep economic problems, which include pervasive vulnerable employment – informal and insecure work that is prone to poor conditions and pay – and limited opportunities that constrain long-term productivity.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is a testament to her mental fortitude, perhaps strongest of the three.
    Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Throughout the writhing and the screaming, Julia’s fortitude wears down a defiant Davina, whose history with Lovat feeds the moment.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Use a sieve to sift out any large chunks, and continue to grind until fine.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Vince has an estranged adult daughter; Jake is an absentee father to a young son; Jake is partnered in his restaurant with a big celebrity; both brothers used to be rock stars; a former restaurant employee has an axe to grind with Jake.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • From families torn apart to moments of hope emerging in the face of unspeakable tragedy to incredible bravery against the odds, each episode reveals the human cost and resilience born out of chaos.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
  • These include helping your family, helping your group, demonstrating reciprocity, demonstrating bravery, respecting a hierarchy and your superiors, dividing resources in an equitable way and respecting ownership of property.
    Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • That was a different type of stamina to stay in that emotional truth.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grit. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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