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Definitions

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.

His advice is to really get into the nitty-gritty of what might go wrong with the vehicle and how much repairs might cost.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

That meant the type of nitty-gritty negotiations needed to hash out potential structural changes to the sport never got off the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

“Democrats have got to turn the focus and start to appreciate those that are all around this country, that are doing the nitty-gritty day-to-day work, that don’t have all the money,” Bush said.

From Slate • Oct. 23, 2025

The boy did, going on at length about every nitty-gritty detail of the epic battle.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin