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Gritty comes from grit ("small hard granules"), which in turn derives, via Middle English, from an Old English word for "sand" or "gravel." Grit has been around since before the 12th century, but the first appearance of gritty in print in English was near the end of the 16th century, when it was used in the sense of "resembling or containing small hard granules." Grit entered American slang with the meaning "courage or persistence" in the early 19th century, and gritty followed suit with a corresponding "plucky" sense. By the 19th century's end, gritty was also being used to describe a literary style that was rough and coarse.
Examples of gritty in a Sentence
Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025
Mansfield pulled off a gritty road win, buoyed by two rushing touchdowns from senior running back Mason Bordieri and a game-altering 75-yard punt return for a score by Darrian Sanders to take down North Attleboro, 24-14, at Beaupre Field.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Then there's Tyler Mane, who makes Michael Myers look novelly gritty.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
Almond butter is known for its rich, nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness; and its texture can range from silky to slightly gritty, depending on how long it's been ground.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gritty
Cite this Entry
“Gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gritty. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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