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Definition of gritty

gritty

/ˈɡrɪt.i/
grit · ty

Adverb:grittily
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gritty Lexical Profile

gritty Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Showing courage, unyielding resolve, and steadfast determination in the face of hardship.

Example

"The underdog team delivered a gritty performance in the final quarter to secure the championship."


2

Depicting harsh, unpleasant, or uncompromising realities without idealization or sentimentality.

Example

"The director is known for her gritty documentaries about post-industrial neighborhoods."


3

Containing or covered with small, loose particles of sand, stone, or coarse powder.

Example

"After a windy afternoon at the beach, the picnic blankets and sandwiches felt unpleasantly gritty."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for gritty

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Old English 'greot', meaning sand, dust, or earth, combined with the adjectival suffix '-y'. The figurative sense of resolute courage emerged in 19th-century American English.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gritty. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gritty
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