Is able to acquire grim frankness (7)
I believe the answer is:
candour
'frankness' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'is able to acquire grim' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'able' could be 'can' and 'can' is present in the answer.
'grim' could be 'dour' (synonyms) and 'dour' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for candour that I've seen before include "Artlessness" , "Forthrightness" , "telling it like it is" , "Frankness, openness" , "open)" .)