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.
At the time, and in the next nearly two years, the Kansas City region also experienced the gruesome abuse and neglect deaths of three children ages 4 to 6, including one boy who fell from a 17th floor apartment window in November 2023. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025 Incredibly gruesome way to die! Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 In September 2024, Israel blew up the group’s pagers, causing gruesome injuries as the devices detonated in Hezbollah operatives’ pockets. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025 Overall, the 86 is a modern mecha anime classic and harks back to the likes of Armored Trooper VOTOMS, albeit with a darker and more gruesome twist. Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gruesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruesome. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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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