grizzled

IPA/ˈɡrɪzld/
KK[ɡrˈɪzəld]IPA/ˈɡrɪzld/

grizzled — adjective

  • grizzledpositive
  • more grizzledcomparative
  • most grizzledsuperlative

1. describing someone whose hair, beard, or fur shows patches or streaks of grey, o

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing someone whose hair, beard, or fur shows patches or streaks of grey, often making them look older or weathered.

Example

The grizzled fisherman tied his boat to the dock at dawn.

attributive: grizzled + occupation noun

Luca stroked his grizzled beard as he listened to the children's question.

collocation: grizzled beard

Common collocations
  • grizzled beard
  • grizzled veteran
  • grizzled hair
  • grizzled features
Synonyms
  • greying

    neutral, plain description of hair turning grey without the weathered connotation

  • hoary

    literary, often poetic; emphasises white rather than mixed grey

  • salt-and-pepper

    informal; describes dark hair evenly mixed with grey, without the rugged feel

  • silvery

    more flattering tone; suggests shine rather than weathered age

Antonyms
  • youthful

    describing appearance suggesting youth rather than age

Grammar Patterns

grizzled + noun

be + grizzled

Usage Note

Frequently attributive with words for facial hair (beard, moustache), professionals shaped by long experience (veteran, sergeant, fisherman), or animals with mottled coats. Carries a connotation of age plus hard-earned experience, not just grey hair.

Common Mistakes

She wore a grizzled dress.
She wore a grey dress.
'grizzled' describes hair or fur showing grey, not the colour of objects or clothing.
The young boy had grizzled hair from stress.
The young boy's hair had turned grey from stress.
'grizzled' carries an age connotation; sudden greying in young people is described with 'grey' or 'turned grey'.

Word family

  • grizzle
    verbC2
  • grizzle
    nounC2
  • grey
    adjectiveA1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe hair shifting from its original colour towards grey or white, but they differ in tone and what they imply about the person. 'Greying' is the plainest and most neutral — it simply notes the change is happening, with no commentary on age or character. 'Grizzled' adds a weathered, rugged feel: a grizzled veteran or fisherman has not only grey hair but a face shaped by years of hard work or experience. 'Hoary' is literary and often poetic, leaning towards pure white and sometimes used of mountains, beards in fairy tales, or ancient figures. 'Salt-and-pepper' is informal and visual, describing dark hair evenly speckled with grey, without the rugged or aged connotation. Compare: 'a greying professor' (just describing), 'a grizzled sergeant' (tough and experienced), 'a hoary old wizard' (storybook), 'salt-and-pepper sideburns' (a stylish look).

grizzled ↗greying ↗hoarysalt-and-pepper

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • grizzled old
  • look grizzled

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the Old French word 'grisel', meaning 'grey-haired', built on 'gris' ('grey'). English borrowed it in the late 14th century, first as 'grizzle' for grey hair, and the past-participle adjective 'grizzled' became the dominant form by the 1600s.