grim

[ grim ]

adjective

, grim·mer, grim·mest.

1. stern and admitting of no appeasement or compromise:

   grim determination; grim necessity.

   Synonyms: unyielding, harsh

   Antonyms: lenient

2. of a sinister or ghastly character:

   a grim joke.

   Synonyms: dreadful, hideous, gruesome, grisly, horrid, appalling, dire, horrible, frightful

   Antonyms: attractive

3. having a harsh, surly, forbidding, or morbid air:

   a grim man but a just one; a grim countenance.

   Synonyms: hard, stern, severe

   Antonyms: gentle

4. fierce, savage, or cruel:

   War is a grim business.

   Synonyms: ruthless, ferocious

5. unpleasant or repellant:

   Scrubbing toilets is a grim task that no one likes doing.

grim

/ ɡrɪm /

adjective

1. stern; resolute

   grim determination

2. harsh or formidable in manner or appearance
3. harshly ironic or sinister

   grim laughter

4. cruel, severe, or ghastly

   a grim accident

5. archaic.
   fierce

   a grim warrior

6. informal.
   unpleasant; disagreeable
7. hold on like grim death
   to hold very firmly or resolutely

Derived Forms

• ˈgrimly, adverb
• ˈgrimness, noun

Other Words From

• grim·ly adverb
• grim·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grim¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German grimm, Old Norse grimmr

Word History and Origins

Origin of grim¹

Old English grimm; related to Old Norse grimmr, Old High German grimm savage, Greek khremizein to neigh

Example Sentences

The usual sober pageantry with which prior artists told the grim story is replaced by a brilliant choreography of chaotic harmonies.

From Los Angeles Times

It should not have to be part of a woman’s routine, but this is the grim reality – especially at this time of year.

From BBC

Lennox, a Belfast native who previously worked on the Troubles-themed coming of age comedy “Derry Girls,” played an essential role in setting its tone which, though grim, is also inflected with dark humor.

From Los Angeles Times

Even though it was yet another grim year in the war in Vietnam, people lined the street and waved as we marched by.

From Salon

The Springboks drew first blood and, given it was so early, it was a grim beginning for Scotland.

From BBC

Related Words

• dogged
• ferocious
• fierce
• merciless
• relentless
• resolute
• ruthless
• unrelenting