gruesome

adjective

grue·​some ˈgrü-səm 

variants or less commonly grewsome

: inspiring horror or repulsion : grisly

gruesome stories of wounded comrades

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun

Synonyms of gruesome

• horrific
• shocking
• horrible
• nightmare
• horrifying
• terrible
• frightening
• terrific
• terrifying
• dreadful

Choose the Right Synonym for gruesome

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect.

ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

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

the lurid details of a crime

Examples of gruesome in a Sentence

The police report described the scene in gruesome detail.

didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the gruesome killing, not a drop of blood was left behind. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026

Even if Skattebo is the bell-cow, Tracy could be involved in the short-passing game, and the latter’s involvement may increase if Monken and Harbaugh have any plans to protect Skattebo more following his gruesome injury. —Jess Bryant, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Advertisement O’Connell’s Jimmy Crystal and his gruesome gang serve that function. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 14 Jan. 2026

After the gruesome attacks, which investigators say were carried out for financial gain, the defendant went into the basement and set the mansion ablaze, according to prosecutors. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier growsome, from English dialect grow, grue to shiver, from Middle English gruen, probably from Middle Dutch grūwen; akin to Old High German ingrūēn to shiver

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gruesome

adjective

grue·​some ˈgrü-səm 

: causing horror or disgust : horrible

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun