grimdark
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Of a film, television programme, video game, written work, etc.: having a gloomy, dystopian atmosphere.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
If your character is a more-or-less ordinary little girl fighting for her life as a usual thing, that's a fairly GRIMDARK setting; it implies that there isn't any Good authority with both the power and the will to protect them.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “grimdark” mean?
Of a film, television programme, video game, written work, etc.: having a gloomy, dystopian atmosphere.
Is “grimdark” formal or informal?
grimdark is generally slang.