Synonyms of gory

gory

adjective

ˈgȯr-ē 

as in bloody

smeared or stained with blood

doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bloody
• red
• reddish
• bloodstained
• crimson
• ruby
• carmine
• sanguinary
• sanguineous
• bloodred
• sanguine
• incarnadine

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gory contrast with its synonyms?

The words bloody and sanguinary are common synonyms of gory. While all three words mean "affected by or involving the shedding of blood," gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Where would bloody be a reasonable alternative to gory?

Although the words bloody and gory have much in common, bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

When might sanguinary be a better fit than gory?

In some situations, the words sanguinary and gory are roughly equivalent. However, sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gory

Rogers has one of his favorite scenes with Malcolm McDowell, where the Slasher unleashes a gory massacre with his axe during an orgy at the Maryland mansion of a wealthy Satanist (McDowell). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026

The famous scene where Rosemary finally meets her baby in Roman Polanski’s occult chiller becomes a gory feature-length folk tale in Hanna Bergholm’s follow-up to the vastly more surrealist body horror Hatching. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026

Cathy has a miscarriage (a very bloody, gory image from Fennell) and dies from sepsis. —Meg Walters, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026

The gory horror flick reportedly cost $3 million to make and is projected to snag another $6 million this weekend. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026