Grit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈgrit/

Meaning & Definition of Grit

Grit (noun)

  1. sand, gravel
  2. a hard sharp granule (as of sand); also, material (as many abrasives) composed of such granules
  3. any of several sandstones

Grit (verb)

  1. to cause (one's teeth) to grind or grate —sometimes used figuratively
  2. to cover or spread with grit; especially, to smooth (a material, such as marble) with a coarse abrasive
  3. to give forth a grating sound

Grit (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship

    "she was an athlete with true grit, continuing her training despite bad weather and an injury"

    similar: backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk
    related: determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor, endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance, heart, mettle, spirit, audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerviness, temerity
    opposite: spinelessness
    near: indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation, cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Grit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to press or strike against or together so as to make a scraping sound

    "the crash victim gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain"

    similar: crunch, gnash, grate, grind, scrape, scrunch
    related: creak, groan, moan, rasp, scratch, whine, clash, collide, jangle, jar

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Grit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Grit:

backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk, crunch, gnash, grate, grind, scrape, scrunch

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Grit

Words with the opposite meaning of Grit:

spinelessness

Related Words for Grit

determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor, endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance, heart, mettle, spirit, audacity, boldness, brass, cheek

Near Antonyms of Grit

indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation, cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Word Forms of Grit

Inflections: gritted, gritting

Origin & Etymology of Grit

Middle English greet, grete, going back to Old English grēot, going back to Germanic *greuta- "broken bits of stone, sand, gravel," (whence also Old Saxon griot "sand, gravel," Middle Dutch griet "coarse sand, grit," Old High German grioz, Old Icelandic grjót "gravel, pebbles"), noun derivative of *greutan- "to grind, crush" (whence Old High German gegrozan "coarse-grained," past participle of a presumed strong verb griozan "to crush"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ghreu̯dH-e/o-, whence, from zero grade, Lithuanian grū́džiu/grū́du, grū́sti "to crush, pulverize"; and from a nominal derivative with o-grade Russian grúda "heap, pile," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian grȕda "lump, clod"

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Grit

grit one's teeth

Frequently Asked Questions about Grit

What does "Grit" mean?

"Grit" means sand, gravel. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: sand, gravel. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Grit"?

Other words for "Grit" include backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude and pluck. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Grit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Grit"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Grit". Common alternatives include backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunk and crunch.

What is the opposite of "Grit"?

Antonyms of "Grit" include spinelessness. Near antonyms include indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution and vacillation.

How do you use "Grit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Grit" in a sentence: "she was an athlete with true grit, continuing her training despite bad weather and an injury"; "the crash victim gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain".

Is "Grit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Grit" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Grit"?

"Grit" is pronounced /ˈgrit/.

What is the origin of the word "Grit"?

"Grit" comes from Middle English greet, grete, going back to Old English grēot, going back to Germanic *greuta- "broken bits of stone, sand, gravel," (whence also Old Saxon griot "sand, gravel," Middle Dutch griet "coarse sand, grit," Old High German grioz, Old Icelandic grjót "gravel, pebbles"), noun derivative of *greutan- "to grind, crush" (whence Old High German gegrozan "coarse-grained," past participle of a presumed strong verb griozan "to crush"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ghreu̯dH-e/o-, whence, from zero grade, Lithuanian grū́džiu/grū́du, grū́sti "to crush, pulverize"; and from a nominal derivative with o-grade Russian grúda "heap, pile," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian grȕda "lump, clod". First known use: before 12th century.