variants also grewsome

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gruesome different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gruesome are ghastly, grisly, lurid, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder
suffered a gruesome death

Where would ghastly be a reasonable alternative to gruesome?

The words ghastly and gruesome can be used in similar contexts, but ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do lurid and gruesome relate to one another?

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

the lurid details of a crime

When can macabre be used instead of gruesome?

While the synonyms macabre and gruesome are close in meaning, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

Examples of gruesome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Last year, Donald Glover enlisted his famous friends to make a gruesome TV show about a killer pop fan. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024 The show recounts what went on before and after the gruesome murder of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Sep. 2024 Initially, police speculated the killings were a mafia hit based on the gruesome scene in the home. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024 Initially, police speculated the killings were a mafia hit based off the gruesome scene in the home. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gruesome 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gruesome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near gruesome

Cite this Entry

“Gruesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruesome. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on gruesome

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