gradgrindian means having a soulless devotion to facts and figures; inflexibly utilitarian.
Why “gradgrindian” is a great word
Having a soulless devotion to facts and figures, characterized by an inflexible utilitarianism that excludes imagination and compassion. From the proper name Gradgrind, the pedantic character in Charles Dickens's 1854 novel *Hard Times*, plus the English suffix -ian (forming adjectives). Unlike 'empirical,' which relies on observation without its attendant bleakness, or 'pedantic,' which concerns itself with trivial formalities, Gradgrindian implies a systemic, crushing ideology. It is the schoolmaster who demands 'Facts, sir! Nothing but facts!' while crushing a child's wonder; the bureaucrat who measures a forest's value only in board-feet of lumber; the ledger that records human lives as mere statistics. It is the quiet tyranny of the tangible over the human spirit—a steam engine without a whistle, efficient, powerful, and utterly unable to announce its own existence with anything resembling music.
Etymology
From Gradgrind + -ian, name of a pedantic character in Charles Dickens' novel Hard Times.
adj
- Having a soulless devotion to facts and figures; inflexibly utilitarian.e.g.“But today's winning businesses are positively Gradgrindian in their pursuit of the truth.”
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