gory

adjective

ˈgȯr-ē 

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling, sensational

wanted to hear the gory details

Synonyms

• bloodstained
• bloody

Choose the Right Synonym for gory

bloody, sanguinary, gory mean affected by or involving the shedding of blood.

bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Examples of gory in a Sentence

doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence

Recent Examples on the Web

Final Destination: Bloodlines After a 14-year hiatus, Final Destination is back — and gorier than ever. —Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 16 May 2025

The 1973 version of Crazies is a just-okay movie from legendary director George A. Romero, but the 2010 take is a perfectly gory white-knuckler that’s got Olyphant’s likability as an X-factor that raises its game. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2024

Toward the end of the bleak, gory postapocalyptic tale, players are suddenly flung back to what seems like an impossibly simple time: a winter dance held the night before Part II’s story begins. —Abby Monteil, Them., 14 Apr. 2025

Kevin Bacon is showing off one of the goriest — and sexiest — moments from behind the scenes of his latest TV show. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gory

• gory details
• in gory detail

Rhymes for gory

• corrie
• corry
• cory
• dory
• flory
• glory
• hoary
• horry
• kauri
• lori
• lorry
• lory

Kids Definition

gory

adjective

ˈgō(ə)r-ē 

ˈgȯ(ə)r-

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling