grimmer; grimmest
1
: fierce in disposition or action : savage
grim wolves
2
3
: ghastly, repellent, or sinister in character
a grim tale
4
: unflinching, unyielding
grim determination
grimly
adverb
grimness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of grim in a Sentence
Hikers made a grim discovery when they came across a dead body in the woods.
The accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The prognosis is grim—doctors do not expect her to live longer than six months.
He paints a grim picture of the prospects for peace.
His face looked grim, and we knew his news wouldn't be good.
Recent Examples on the Web
Civil War is both a more ambitious picture and an act of grim entertainment.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Such demonization of the press, with its grim echo (or harbinger?) of Trumpist rule, is about as close as the movie gets to advancing a remotely political point of view.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
More than 500 District residents died of opioid overdoses last year, recent data shows, setting another grim record in the city’s struggle to combat the growing crisis.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
The report by the Alliance for the Great Lakes offers a grim reminder that plastic never fully disappears.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
That Church still has more parishes in Ukraine than its newer, independent rival, but its long-term prospects appear grim.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The grim story began in the fall of 2019, when extended family members reported the two children missing and law enforcement officials launched a search that spanned several states.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
The grim tone of the first Joker movie appears to be intact as Phoenix, Gaga, and Phillips prepare to play their hand in the sequel — but the story at the core of the film is a (still somewhat disturbing) musical romance.
—EW.com, 10 Apr. 2024
Numerous lawsuits are expected, and the six deaths caused by the disaster add a grim layer of complications.
—Peter Eavis, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Such demonization of the press, with its grim echo (or harbinger?) of Trumpist rule, is about as close as the movie gets to advancing a remotely political point of view.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
More than 500 District residents died of opioid overdoses last year, recent data shows, setting another grim record in the city’s struggle to combat the growing crisis.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
The report by the Alliance for the Great Lakes offers a grim reminder that plastic never fully disappears.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
That Church still has more parishes in Ukraine than its newer, independent rival, but its long-term prospects appear grim.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The grim story began in the fall of 2019, when extended family members reported the two children missing and law enforcement officials launched a search that spanned several states.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
The grim tone of the first Joker movie appears to be intact as Phoenix, Gaga, and Phillips prepare to play their hand in the sequel — but the story at the core of the film is a (still somewhat disturbing) musical romance.
—EW.com, 10 Apr. 2024
Numerous lawsuits are expected, and the six deaths caused by the disaster add a grim layer of complications.
—Peter Eavis, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grim
Cite this Entry
“Grim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grim. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grim
adjective
grimmer; grimmest
grimly
adverb
grimness
noun
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