granite

noun

gran·​ite ˈgra-nət How to pronounce granite (audio)
Synonyms of granitenext
1
: a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments
2
: unyielding firmness or endurance
… the cold granite of Puritan formalism.—V. L. Parrington
granitelike
ˈgra-nət-ˌlīk How to pronounce granite (audio)
adjective
granitic
gra-ˈni-tik How to pronounce granite (audio)
adjective
granitoid
ˈgra-nə-ˌtȯid How to pronounce granite (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of granite

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Examples of granite in a Sentence

had the granite to see the project out to the end
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump has said that using granite rather than concrete for the helipad was his suggestion. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 For a more regional flavor, there’s also Beano’s Café, decorated in local materials like Aswan granite, alabaster, and basswood. — Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026 How to Clean Granite Countertops With Natural Products Natural products like lemon and vinegar, a go-to for DIY cleaning solutions, are not suitable for cleaning granite. — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2026 On November 6, as part of Czechoslovakia’s de-Stalinization, the demolition of a fifty-feet-high granite statue of Joseph Stalin, erected in Prague in 1955, was complete. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for granite

Word History

Etymology

Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of granite was in 1646

Rhymes for granite

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Browse Nearby Words

granita
granite
granite blue
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Cite this Entry

“Granite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/granite. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

granite

noun
gran·​ite ˈgran-ət How to pronounce granite (audio)
1
: a very hard rock that can be polished and is used in buildings and monuments
2
: unyielding firmness (as of character, will, or opinion)

More from Merriam-Webster on granite

Nglish: Translation of granite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about granite

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