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
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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The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 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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With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Still, Starks is a natural leader with a relentless motor who isn't afraid to make contact.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Google’s index ballooned as its crawlers struggled to process this relentless deluge of pages.—
Ivan Guzenko,
Forbes.com,
24 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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On the other side, the Grizzlies had an even tougher time with Curry, who finished with 52 points on 16-of-31 shooting.—
Anthony Slater,
New York Times,
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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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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