What does grizzled mean?
Grizzled most often describes hair that has partly or completely turned gray. It can also characterize a face, beard, complexion, or other feature as weathered, mottled, or grayish, frequently suggesting advanced age and long experience. The word is often literary or deliberately evocative: a grizzled sailor or veteran seems to carry the visible effects of a demanding life. As a verb, grizzled means to become gray or grayish, particularly when describing hair changing with age. Although the sound of the word resembles drizzled, the two have unrelated everyday meanings: drizzled refers to light rain, while grizzled concerns color, texture, and appearance. Grizzled is especially useful when an author wishes to convey not merely grey hair but the impression of age, exposure, and character accumulated over time.
Having hair that is partly or predominantly gray; appearing weathered, mottled, or grayish, especially with age.
"His grizzled beard made him look decades older than his years."
Commonly used in literary description; when applied to a person, it often conveys age and experience as well as a visibly gray or weathered appearance.
To become gray or grayish, especially as hair changes with age.
"His hair had grizzled at the temples."
Less common than the adjective and chiefly literary in modern use.
Grizzled began as a color word: it described grayish hair before becoming shorthand for a face or life weathered by experience.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grizzled come from?
Grizzled appeared in the early 17th century in the sense of grayish, formed from grizzle with the suffix -ed. Grizzle itself comes through English from Old French grisel, meaning gray or grayish, a diminutive of gris, meaning gray. The verb meaning to become gray developed later, and grizzled eventually acquired broader associations with a mottled or weathered appearance.
How grizzled is actually used
The adjective is chiefly descriptive and literary; applied to a person, it suggests age and experience rather than merely the color of their hair. The verb is less common and is also largely literary.
Easily confused with grizzled
Grizzled describes something grayish, mottled, or weathered, whereas drizzled describes fine rain.