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

Traditional folklore describes Krampus as having the body of an upright goat, claw-like hands, shaggy black or brown fur covering his body, long horns coming out from his head, fangs and a gruesome humanoid face. —Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025

The previous episode's gruesome case casts a pall over the entire hospital, but Katherine LaNasa's snarky and ebullient charge nurse Dana Evans alone manages to break like a sun ray through the fearsome clouds — which makes the episode's violent end all the more shocking. —Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025

Prosecutors who are trying to prove that Brian Walshe murdered his wife Ana showed a potentially bloody rug sample along with other gruesome-looking evidence during the third day of proceedings in the trial. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025

Prosecutors trying a Massachusetts man in the murder and dismemberment of his wife traced his gruesome online tracks in court Tuesday through dozens of internet searches conducted after Ana Walshe disappeared three years ago. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025

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