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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grim
Despite the grim cliffhanger, hope remains, Bradway reiterates.
—
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
Embedded within its grim accounting is a forward-looking argument that the forces now gathering could make the 2030s the most prosperous decade in half a century — if governments act now to seize them.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Above all, let a grim chapter in Everglades history end.
—Eve Samples, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
In the face of this grim reality, some, like Dina, seized freedom for themselves.
—Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026
Embedded within its grim accounting is a forward-looking argument that the forces now gathering could make the 2030s the most prosperous decade in half a century — if governments act now to seize them.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Above all, let a grim chapter in Everglades history end.
—Eve Samples, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
In the face of this grim reality, some, like Dina, seized freedom for themselves.
—Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grim
Adjective
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
Platner, a gruff 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran, is trying to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins with a platform of economic populism, universal health care, labor protections, and anti-interventionism.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Ahead of the holiday, the City of Rancho Cordova is cracking down with much harsher penalties.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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Members of his party who want even harsher border controls have splintered off to form Restore Britain, which has gained support from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is vociferously backing it on his X platform.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Season 3 of Cross is in production and creator and showrunner Ben Watkins revealed that the next chapter of the Prime Video drama will explore addiction through the lens of Alex Cross’ relentless pursuit of justice.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
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But what raw-milk consumers often don’t realize is that many dairy farmers are in a relentless battle to produce clean milk.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Harron slyly transforms it into a savage social satire, using the narrator’s unreliable point of view to borderline absurdist effect.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
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What begins as a desperate family bonding trip rapidly devolves into savage violence and brutal psychological warfare.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Fold-down stern platforms create more than 50 square feet of additional usable space at anchor.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
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The photo shows both the bow and the stern sections under construction.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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McIlroy bogeyed 18 to finish at one under, squarely in the hunt, considering the tough conditions limited scoring.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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Parker, a former Eagles assistant, has risen quickly through the NFL coaching ranks and now faces a tough task with a roster full of new faces and high expectations.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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The pound-for-pound star walked through a determined Antonio Vargas en route to a sixth-round, one-punch KO to become a three-division champion on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Gene Hackman — who developed new shades of menace and gravitas with each passing year — turns in a career-best performance as the determined and obsessive Det.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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So playing characters who were so ferocious and bold and confident and determined and all that helped me profoundly in my personal life.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
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Your ferocious work ethic and absolutely unshakable moral fiber.—
Scott Bauer,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grim. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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