Grim Reaper

American  

noun

1. the personification of death as a man or cloaked skeleton holding a scythe.

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Grim Reaper Cultural  

1. A figure commonly used to represent death. The Grim Reaper is a skeleton or solemn-looking man carrying a scythe, who cuts off people's lives as though he were harvesting grain.

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Usage

What is the Grim Reaper? The Grim Reaper is a fictional skeleton wearing a black robe and wielding a scythe, generally portrayed as the embodiment of death. How is term pronounced?[ grim ree-per ]

Etymology

Origin of Grim Reaper

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

One thing to be said in favor of the Grim Reaper: His taste in literature is pretty sound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

This bottle from Boss Dog Art Dept. offers a message from the Grim Reaper themselves: “Drink water or die.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2024

Cartoonists often depicted the Grim Reaper seated behind the wheel.

From Slate • May 25, 2024

During renovation work in 2014, the image of the Grim Reaper in a boat was removed to preserve it in the M-Shed museum.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2024

“Is that your boss over there? The Grim Reaper? I’m going to go right over there and tell him, What kind of stinkin’ rule is that?”

From "The Misfits" by James Howe