Grim
Stern
Synonyms: Stern, uninviting, aloof, formidable, dour, steely, stony, ferocious, menacing, cross, crabbed, sour, unsmiling, ruthless, boot-faced, forbidding, unapproachable, distant, strict, harsh, flinty, fierce, threatening, mean-looking, churlish, surly, ill-tempered, cruel, and merciless.
Dreadful
Synonyms: Dreadful, ghastly, horrendous, terrible, appalling, shocking, atrocious, grisly, hideous, revolting, macabre, depressing, upsetting, concerning, disagreeable, dire, horrible, horrid, awful, frightful, unspeakable, harrowing, gruesome, disgusting, gory, morbid, distressing, worrying, and unpleasant.
Black
Bleak
Synonyms: Bleak, dismal, wretched, disheartening, cheerless, joyless, sombre, drab, dreary, dingy, miserable, depressing, comfortless, gloomy, uninviting, and godawful.
Merciless
Example Sentences
The news report was quite grim.
He wore a grim expression today.
The movie had a grim storyline.
Their situation looks increasingly grim now.