nitty-gritty
noun
nit·ty-grit·ty
ˌni-tē-ˈgri-tē 
ˈni-tē-ˌgri-
: what is essential and basic : specific practical details
get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem
nitty-gritty
adjective
Examples of nitty-gritty in a Sentence
the governor tends to leave the nitty-gritty of running the state government to others
a look at the nitty-gritty aspects of putting out a newspaper
Recent Examples on the Web
Consult with a mental health professional for the true nitty-gritty.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The record is nitty-gritty garage-rock and sweaty alt-country under the haze of neon barroom lights.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024
The Electoral College nitty-gritty The margins in all these swing states are extremely tight.
—Andrew Prokop, Vox, 3 Sep. 2024
These sorts of specific, nitty-gritty details are not well suited for congressional legislation or a judge’s decision.
—Meredith Moore, Scientific American, 11 July 2024
Watson, in his first day of testimony, put some distance between himself and the financial nitty-gritty at fast-growing Ozy.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 2 July 2024
Agencies use their expertise to turn broad-brush statutes into nitty-gritty policies, and the courts intervene only in extreme circumstances.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
There, the two talked about the joyful nitty-gritty of not only poetry, but the poets' wellspring, life.
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 16 Apr. 2024
These hearings are going to be a lot of nitty-gritty details about App Store guidelines.
—Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 8 May 2024
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.
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The record is nitty-gritty garage-rock and sweaty alt-country under the haze of neon barroom lights.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024
The Electoral College nitty-gritty The margins in all these swing states are extremely tight.
—Andrew Prokop, Vox, 3 Sep. 2024
These sorts of specific, nitty-gritty details are not well suited for congressional legislation or a judge’s decision.
—Meredith Moore, Scientific American, 11 July 2024
Watson, in his first day of testimony, put some distance between himself and the financial nitty-gritty at fast-growing Ozy.
—Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 2 July 2024
Agencies use their expertise to turn broad-brush statutes into nitty-gritty policies, and the courts intervene only in extreme circumstances.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
There, the two talked about the joyful nitty-gritty of not only poetry, but the poets' wellspring, life.
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 16 Apr. 2024
These hearings are going to be a lot of nitty-gritty details about App Store guidelines.
—Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 8 May 2024
Dictionary Entries Near nitty-gritty
Cite this Entry
“Nitty-gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitty-gritty. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share