gritty
UK: ˈɡrɪti | US: ˈɡrɪti
adj. containing or resembling grit; rough or granular in texture
adj. showing courage, resolve, and perseverance; tough
The word "gritty" derives from "grit," which originally referred to small, hard particles like sand or gravel (from Old English grēot). Over time, "grit" metaphorically expanded to describe mental toughness or resilience, likely inspired by the enduring nature of gritty substances. The suffix "-y" transforms the noun into an adjective, conveying either a literal texture ("gritty sand") or a figurative quality ("gritty determination").
The gritty texture of the sidewalk scraped her knees when she fell.
His gritty performance in the marathon inspired the crowd.
She preferred gritty detective novels with realistic protagonists.
The film’s gritty cinematography captured the harshness of urban life.
Despite the challenges, their gritty attitude kept the team motivated.