Definition

Not cheerful or hopeful; serious and stern in appearance or attitude.

Example

She looked at him grimly, knowing the situation was serious.

Conversation

Did you see how grimly she reacted to the news?

Yeah, it was pretty shocking; I didn't expect that from her.

I thought she would handle it better, to be honest.

Same here, but I guess it really hit her hard.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

In a way that shows seriousness, sadness, or a lack of hope.

Example

She smiled grimly at the thought of the difficult task ahead.

Conversation

Did you see the news about the storm coming?

Yeah, they reported it could be pretty bad.

I heard the weather forecast said it might hit us grimly.

Root Explanation

Grimly → It is formed from "grim" (from Old English *grim*, meaning fierce or cruel) and the suffix "-ly" (meaning in a manner of). The word "grimly" means in a fierce or cruel manner.

Memory Tip

Think of someone acting in a 'fierce' way ('grim') — the '-ly' shows how they are doing it, so 'grimly' means doing something in a fierce manner.

Visually Confused Words