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

The Xenomorph’s attacks are violent, extremely gory, and disorientingly hectic. —James Grebey, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024

Instead, with its increasingly gory set pieces, Álvarez’s film is a largely visual experience and a much scarier popcorn movie than its trailer (and rating) might suggest. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024

The goriest slasher movie may possess hidden depths—the mold-setting Black Christmas, the meta-aware Scream—but its primary function is providing entertainment and vicious thrills. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 2 July 2024

Not too gory or too broad and enlivened by production-design details like the fluttering pages of the books the hand tossed off itself and the elasticity of Campbell’s shocked, irritated, and vengeful reactions, this Evil Dead II fight skitteringly blazed a trail. —Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gory

• gory details
• in gory detail

Kids Definition

gory

adjective

ˈgō(ə)r-ē 

ˈgȯ(ə)r-

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling