nitty-gritty

[nit-ee-grit-ee] / ˈnɪt iˈgrɪt i /

NOUN

basic facts

Synonyms

STRONG

basics core essence focus fundamentals gist heart kernel meat quintessence reality root soul substance

WEAK

bottom line brass tacks chief part chief thing cold fact essential details essential part hard fact heart of the matter important matter meat and potatoes name of the game nuts and bolts the facts the name of the game

Antonyms

STRONG

exterior exteriority outside surface

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brand names such as Mercedes and Audi might conjure up images of wide-open autobahns, but when it comes to Formula One, the real nitty-gritty happens in Brackley and Bicester.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

While Brussels is setting out the nitty-gritty of the reforms it wants from Magyar, leaders will also be pushing for a new approach on Ukraine.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

But when you actually get into the nitty-gritty, it’s a long time ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Get into the nitty-gritty early on so you’re not scrambling the day of.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025

The video was about yarn structure, which probably wasn’t interesting to most people, but the knitters who subscribed to Grandma’s YouTube channel loved the nitty-gritty details.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

nitty-gritty

Example Sentences

Related Words