gory

adjective

ˈgȯr-ē 

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling, sensational

wanted to hear the gory details

Synonyms of gory

• bloody
• red

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 film is fairly gory, and Taccone recently endured his own experience of body horror; while attempting to finish a mural at his home in Connecticut, the director fell from a ladder and shattered his pelvis, leaving him unable to walk for months. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

The jury saw photos and video of the scene, including one gory top-down photo. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026

The first third of director Ben Wheatley’s gory black comedy introduces us to Ulysses and takes us on his journey through a small town that harbors a link to Japan. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026

With the story moving more or less in real time — 15 hour-long episodes for a single 15-hour shift — patients with gory injuries and tragic stories come and go more quickly than the health care workers can process. —Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

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