gritty
Americanadjective
-
consisting of, containing, or resembling grit; sandy.
-
resolute and courageous; plucky.
adjective
-
courageous; hardy; resolute
-
of, like, or containing grit
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of gritty
Explanation
Gritty things have a rough texture that makes them feel like they're coated with sand. After a day at the beach, you might come home with gritty arms and legs. A baking project involving corn meal might result in a gritty counter and a gritty kitchen floor, and one shake of your dirty dog will leave you with a gritty couch. Grit is a tiny particle of sand or stone, and gritty means "covered in grit." A second meaning of gritty is "showing bravery and spirit." When you stick with something no matter how scary or difficult it is, that's gritty.
Vocabulary lists containing gritty
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Baseball in April
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Earthquake"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As New York prepares to host the World Cup, the city is instead awash in Knicks blue and orange, reflecting a deep love for the gritty, unifying team chasing a historic NBA Finals victory.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
It was the summer of 2019, and HBO’s new gritty teen drama was everywhere.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Oleksandr Usyk came through a gritty contest to beat a game Rico Verhoeven and retain his heavyweight world titles.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
Gone are the gritty warehouse districts, the nocturnal desolation of downtown and the shabby chic of South Beach.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
He bent over and kissed him on his gritty brow.
From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
