Meaning & use

grim

adjective·Everyday

Unpleasant, harsh, or worrying in a way that offers little hope or comfort.

See it in a sentence

The doctor's grim expression told them the news would not be good.

Survivors described grim conditions in the camp during the coldest months.

A note on using this word

Grim can describe both a person's serious expression and a situation's bleak outlook, from 'grim news' to 'grim determination'.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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