1
capitalized
: any of three snake-haired sisters in Greek mythology whose appearance turns the beholder to stone
2
: an ugly or repulsive woman
Did you know?
The Gorgons were three monstrous sisters in Greek mythology, the most famous of whom was Medusa. They had snakes for hair, and anyone who looked directly at them was immediately turned to stone. Medusa herself was finally beheaded by the hero Perseus, who avoided looking straight at her by instead watching her reflection in his mirrorlike shield. Today the familiar types of jellyfish, with long snakelike tentacles descending from their headlike bodies, are known as medusas.
Examples of gorgon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The original premise follows Frankenstein’s monster teaming up with a werewolf, vampire and gorgon to fight Nazis in World War II.
—
Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 26 July 2024
Those themes are evident in the salon decorated with giant nautilus shells, gorgons of the sea and other old nautical items.
—Chloe Braithwaite, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
The East Coast socialites Capote fawns over are lacquered gorgons (for whom the show occasionally sheds crocodile tears, as in the case of Paley’s cancer diagnosis); the Hollywood crowd that takes him in is tasteless lightweights.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Playwright Kenny Hahn delves into the human side of the famous gorgon.
—John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2023
Instead of an evil monster, Haynes’s Medusa is a beloved gorgon sister with a keen intellect and a curiosity about the human world.
—Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023
The premise features Frankenstein’s monster teaming up with a werewolf, a vampire and a gorgon to fight Nazis in World War II.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 31 Jan. 2023
Georgie Farmer plays Ajax, a gorgon who can turn people into stone.
—Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 1 Dec. 2022
Kennedy will guest star as Medusa, the infamous gorgon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Oct. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 26 July 2024
Those themes are evident in the salon decorated with giant nautilus shells, gorgons of the sea and other old nautical items.
—Chloe Braithwaite, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
The East Coast socialites Capote fawns over are lacquered gorgons (for whom the show occasionally sheds crocodile tears, as in the case of Paley’s cancer diagnosis); the Hollywood crowd that takes him in is tasteless lightweights.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Playwright Kenny Hahn delves into the human side of the famous gorgon.
—John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2023
Instead of an evil monster, Haynes’s Medusa is a beloved gorgon sister with a keen intellect and a curiosity about the human world.
—Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023
The premise features Frankenstein’s monster teaming up with a werewolf, a vampire and a gorgon to fight Nazis in World War II.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 31 Jan. 2023
Georgie Farmer plays Ajax, a gorgon who can turn people into stone.
—Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 1 Dec. 2022
Kennedy will guest star as Medusa, the infamous gorgon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Gorgon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gorgon. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share