grimly

[ grim-lee ]

adverb

1. in a stern, sinister, fierce, or forbidding way:

   The mood has turned bleak here as the populace prepares grimly for a period of prolonged hardship and, they fear, war.

   For many years, art was forbidden in the country unless it was grimly, dully figurative or a gaudy mural glorifying the dictator’s regime.

Word History and Origins

Origin of grimly¹

First recorded before 1000; grim ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

“The Pairings Menu has left the building,” one Reddit user grimly posted.

From Salon

On Sunday, he gave in — with a letter that was grimly eloquent, as if dictated through clenched teeth.

From Los Angeles Times

Abel grimly decided that in his next effort he would not count on a rudder; rudders were too dependent on the behavior of wayward water.

From Literature

Some aspects of the story might be a bit jarring to modern sensibilities, but it was grimly captivating and very slickly done.

From New York Times

New York City deli owner Jimmy Yavrodi looks grimly out of the shop that he opened 27 years ago in one of the city's prime business districts.

From BBC

Related Words

• brutally
• firmly
• powerfully