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

Emergency operations experts say not enough has been done in their field to address the very grim possibility that evacuating may not always be possible — in part because it’s a hard reality to confront.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The discussion of her childhood is not all grim, however.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On the surface, the labor market data out today looked pretty grim, causing at least a few traders to rethink the odds of a December rate cut.

Read more on Barron's

She looks grim as she throws her eyes across the table.

Read more on Literature

Svetlana’s face grew even more grim, for the out-of-control children were making a mess of the floors she had just cleaned.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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