gritty
/ˈɡrɪti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡrɪti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgri-tē/ (ame, mw)
gritty — adjective
- grittypositive
- grittiercomparative
- grittiestsuperlative
1. containing small pieces of stone, sand, or similar rough material; having a roug
containing small pieces of stone, sand, or similar rough material; having a rough, sandy texture that you can feel when you touch it or eat it.
The spinach salad tasted gritty from the sand that had not been washed off.
gritty + noun describing food texture
Aisha bit into the gritty bread and found tiny bits of stone in the flour.
The old wooden floor felt gritty under Yuki's bare feet after a day at the beach.
Pablo wiped the gritty dust from the windowsill before placing his books on it.
文法句型
gritty + noun
be/look/feel + gritty
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe food, surfaces, or substances that accidentally contain sand or grit.
常見錯誤
2. describing an uncomfortable feeling in the eyes, skin, or mouth, as if tiny roug
describing an uncomfortable feeling in the eyes, skin, or mouth, as if tiny rough particles are present and causing irritation.
After staring at the screen for eight hours, Wei's eyes felt dry and gritty.
feel gritty — describing eye discomfort
The desert wind left Fatima's skin feeling gritty and sore by midday.
Diego rubbed his gritty eyes after riding his bicycle through the dusty lane.
Sofia's mouth tasted gritty and sour after she woke up from the long flight.
- comfortable
free from irritation
- smooth
when referring to skin
文法句型
feel/be + gritty
gritty + noun (eyes, skin)
用法筆記
Common in descriptions of dry-eye syndrome, allergies, or exposure to dust and wind. Predominantly used with 'eyes' but also with 'skin' or 'mouth'.
常見錯誤
3. showing the unpleasant and difficult sides of life in a direct, honest way witho
showing the unpleasant and difficult sides of life in a direct, honest way without trying to make them look better or softer — used especially about films, books, and artistic works.
Kenji's documentary offers a gritty look at life in the city's poorest neighbourhoods.
gritty + noun (look, portrayal) for artistic works
The film is a gritty crime drama set on the foggy streets of 1970s London.
collocation: gritty crime drama
Critics praised the novel for its gritty portrayal of factory workers during the Depression.
Unlike glossy Hollywood movies, this director prefers a more gritty, handheld style.
Amara prefers gritty, realistic stories over fairy tales with happy endings.
文法句型
gritty + noun (drama, film, portrayal, look)
用法筆記
This sense contrasts with 'glossy' or 'polished'. It is almost always positive in art criticism, praising honesty over prettiness.
常見錯誤
4. showing the willingness to keep working toward a hard goal through pain, difficu
showing the willingness to keep working toward a hard goal through pain, difficulty, or disappointment, without giving up.
Clara's gritty determination helped her finish the marathon despite a twisted ankle.
gritty + determination
The rescue team made a gritty effort to reach the hikers before nightfall.
Olu admired his grandmother's gritty spirit when she rebuilt her home after the storm.
It was a gritty performance by a team that refused to give up.
Boris showed gritty resolve by continuing his studies while working two jobs.
- determined
general term; gritty adds the idea of perseverance through hardship
- tenacious
similar but slightly more formal; holding firmly to a goal
- resilient
focuses on recovering from setbacks; gritty emphasizes continuing despite them
- weak-willed
easily giving up or changing one's mind
- timid
lacking the courage to face difficulty
文法句型
gritty + noun (determination, spirit, effort)
be + gritty (of a person)
用法筆記
Strongly positive. Describes a person's character or their actions, not a situation. 'Gritty person' is more about inner strength than outward bravery.