grim

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An unpleasant situation or feeling is described as grim. You might feel a bit grim if you have a headache and can't sleep.

When we talk about something being grim, we often mean it's very serious, sad, or frightening. Imagine watching a horror movie on Halloween - that would be a pretty grim experience! People might also use the word to describe their mood when they're feeling depressed or worried about something. For example, "The news of her illness left him feeling quite grim." The word can also mean having a harsh or unpleasant quality, like an ugly, rundown old house with a grim appearance.

How common is "grim"?

Word grim is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions

adjective

  • Dismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.

    Example: Life was grim in many northern industrial towns.

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Real examples of "grim" in context

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