grim

[grim]

adjective

grimmer, grimmest 

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. to hold very firmly or resolutely

Other Word Forms

• grimly adverb
• grimness 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

Surveying the damaged pumping equipment and a grim lake of sewage at the Sheikh Radwan wastewater plant, Fletcher said the task ahead for the UN and aid agencies was a "massive, massive job".

Read more on Barron's

Second, his father’s expression changes “from confusion to suspicion to grim resignation” as he realized the fight was over.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Conditions in parts of Russia were so grim that the communist leader worried his own military might turn against him.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ten hours later, the officer called back with an even grimmer update: Hamas had just released a public statement, saying that Bipin’s remains would soon be delivered to Israel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But highlighting the inflation forecasts, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the IMF assessment on made for "grim reading".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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