gruesome

adjective

grue·​some ˈgrü-səm 

variants or less commonly grewsome

: inspiring horror or repulsion : grisly

gruesome stories of wounded comrades

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun

Synonyms of gruesome

• horrific
• shocking
• horrible
• nightmare
• horrifying
• terrible
• frightening
• terrific
• terrifying
• dreadful

Choose the Right Synonym for gruesome

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect.

ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

Examples of gruesome in a Sentence

The police report described the scene in gruesome detail.

didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident

Recent Examples on the Web

The roommate of a man who was stabbed inside his Baltimore home is speaking about the gruesome crime in a WJZ Investigates exclusive. —Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

While you might be inclined to take the less humane route to keep mice out—stocking up on traps, glues, essential oils, and other expensive (and often gruesome) killers—there are plenty of natural ways to repel mice worth trying, too. —Kylie McConville, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026

But taking The Beauty comes with gruesome, deadly side effects, and an epidemic ensues. —Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

And in October 2025, videos exposed gruesome mass killings by the RSF in Sudan’s Darfur Region. —Sarah Baniak, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier growsome, from English dialect grow, grue to shiver, from Middle English gruen, probably from Middle Dutch grūwen; akin to Old High German ingrūēn to shiver

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gruesome

adjective

grue·​some ˈgrü-səm 

: causing horror or disgust : horrible

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun