Standard Lemma guide

grimly

adj · adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɡɹɪmli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪmli
  • CMU ARPABET: G R IH1 M L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Grim-looking, grim-natured.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

In a grim manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grisly

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a grim implacable manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was grimly satisfied

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English grymly, grimlich, from Old English grimliċ, corresponding to grim + -ly. Compare grimlike.

From Middle English grymly, grimliche, from Old English grimlīċe, equivalent to grim + -ly. Cognate with Icelandic grimmliga.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: synkästi — in a grim manner
  • French: sinistrement — in a grim manner
  • German: grimmig — in a grim manner
  • Ancient Greek: ὑπόδρα (hupódra) — in a grim manner
  • Italian: cupamente — in a grim manner
  • Italian: torvamente — in a grim manner
  • Polish: ponuro — in a grim manner
  • Portuguese: sombriamente — in a grim manner
  • Portuguese: sinistramente — in a grim manner
  • Russian: мра́чно (mráčno) — in a grim manner
  • Russian: злове́ще (zlovéšče) — in a grim manner
  • Spanish: sombríamente — in a grim manner
  • Spanish: torvamente — in a grim manner
  • Telugu: వికారముగా (vikāramugā) — in a grim manner