proper grit

grit
1 of 2
noun
;grit
Synonyms of grit
1
a
: sand, gravel
b
: a hard sharp granule (as of sand)
also : material (as many abrasives) composed of such granules
2
: any of several sandstones
3
a
: the structure of a stone that adapts it to grinding
b
: the size of abrasive particles usually expressed as their mesh
4
: firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger
managed to survive by his grit and guile
5
capitalized : a Liberal in Canadian politics
grit

2 of 2
verb
gritted; gritting
intransitive verb

: to give forth a grating sound
dry snow gritting beneath our feet
transitive verb

1
: to cause (one's teeth) to grind or grate
gritted his teeth and faced the challenge
2
: to cover or spread with grit
especially : to smooth (a material, such as marble) with a coarse abrasive

Synonyms
Noun

backbone
constancy
fiber
fortitude
grittiness
guts
intestinal fortitude
pluck
spunk
Verb

crunch
gnash
grate
grind
scrape
scrunch
Examples of grit in a Sentence
Noun
He shook out his shoes to remove the small rocks and grit.
Through resourcefulness and grit, the pioneers survived the winter.
Verb
the crash victim gritted his teeth as a way of coping with the pain
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Instead, her journey is one of grit, determination, and a brash spirit that would make even Cher blush.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
The steel filter is too porous and lets a lot of sediment through, but KitchenAid smartly has a textured bottom that lets the grit settle on the sides of the bottom.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
Well, Jones gritted his teeth through 34 snaps and earned the highest preliminary PFF grade of any Baltimore interior defender.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
This muscular portion of the stomach helps the bird grind up and digest food, and it’s actually designed to hold some stones and grit to help the chicken or turkey digest food.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024