It　is　challenging　to　describe　quantitatively　the　effects　of　ceramic　grain　morphology　on　the　stress　and　strain　distributions　in　the　cermet　materials　under　different　loading　conditions.　Here　the　dependence　of　the　distribution　of　residual　thermal　stress　(RTS)　in　the　as-prepared　cermets　and　its　mechanical　behavior　under　external　stress　on　the　morphology　of　ceramic　grains　were　quantified　and　resolved　by　modeling　and　experimental　studies,　using　WC[sbnd]Co　cermets　as　a　typical　example.　A　model　was　proposed　to　visualize　the　strain　localization　and　reveal　the　mechanisms　of　the　initiation　and　propagation　of　micro-cracks　in　the　microstructure　of　cermets　under　varying　loads,　and　the　calculation　results　were　verified　by　experimental　measurements.　It　was　discovered　that　the　effects　of　WC　grain　morphology　on　the　mechanical　behavior　and　failure　mode　of　cermets　are　distinctly　different　under　tension　or　compression　loading　conditions,　whose　mechanisms　were　disclosed　based　on　detailed　analysis　of　micro-scale　strain　responses.　The　results　indicate　that　it　is　feasible　to　modulate　the　strain　distribution　by　tailoring　the　grain　shape　character　for　adapting　to　external　loading,　hence　optimizing　the　material　mechanical　behavior.　©　2024　Acta　Materialia　Inc.