grimly

American  

[grim-lee] / ˈgrɪm li /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of grimly

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grimly

William & Mary used “a thrilling avalanche of forward passes” and “set their teeth grimly to stage a gigantic comeback” in the third quarter, according to a Newport News story at the time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Instead, she stands up, pops her dislocated shoulder back into its socket and grimly declares to the shocked classmate filming her, “This is Claire Bennet, and that was attempt No. 6.”

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026

Another insider joked grimly: "It's been a really hard week – stronger words could be used."

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Its resilient population is grimly united behind the war effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

His father’s lips tightened grimly, and his eyes were serious.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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Related Words

• brutally
• firmly
• powerfully

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