gruesome

adjective

grue·​some ˈgrü-səm How to pronounce gruesome (audio)
variants or less commonly grewsome
: inspiring horror or repulsion : grisly
gruesome stories of wounded comrades
gruesomely adverb
gruesomeness noun
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
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.
But the crossover ends there, as RoboCop is definitely not a kids movie–brutally violent, gruesome, filled with foul language, and nudity. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024 With one of Ohio’s largest and most gruesome homicides back in the headlines, here’s a reminder about the facts in the case and who’s who. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 27 Nov. 2024 Kayce represents every viewer who doesn't want to look at the gruesome remains of a heroic character but wants answers. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024 To conceal the gruesome collection of bodies at the funeral home locations, the couple prevented outsiders from entering their buildings, covered the windows and doors, and lied about the source of the odor, the federal indictment said. Hank Sanders, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gruesome 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gruesome was circa 1700

Dictionary Entries Near gruesome

Cite this Entry

“Gruesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruesome. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gruesome

adjective
grue·​some ˈgrü-səm How to pronounce gruesome (audio)
: causing horror or disgust : horrible
gruesomely adverb
gruesomeness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gruesome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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