Synonym Chooser

How is the word grisly different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of grisly are ghastly, gruesome, lurid, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder
suffered a gruesome death

When is ghastly a more appropriate choice than grisly?

Although the words ghastly and grisly have much in common, ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do lurid and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of grisly?

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

the lurid details of a crime

When might macabre be a better fit than grisly?

While the synonyms macabre and grisly are close in meaning, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of grisly Anyone with an aversion to physical and mental torture will likely find Dangerous Animals a repulsive turnoff, but others with a taste for grisly violence should find something juicy to chomp on. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025 The vision allows Iris to escape her grisly fate and save everyone around her. Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 15 May 2025 Over three episodes, recently discovered recordings of Fred’s interviews with police make an already grisly story even more lurid. Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 14 May 2025 Maybe not the actual people, who are usually sunny and chipper in contrast to their grisly work, but certainly the actual act of being worked on by one of them. Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grisly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grisly
Adjective
  • Then, on November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a gruesome package in the mail.
    Christine Pelisek, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • The gruesome recovery comes in the wake of a gruesome February incident, when a body was found inside a suitcase floating in the East River.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • The war has carried a horrific toll for Gazans, with many dead amid the fighting and whole neighborhoods razed to the ground.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • Instead of just ending on that horrific moment, the show then cuts to Abby several days earlier.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Read more: Lakers' Bronny James Among NBA's Elite in One Unique Category Following the shocking comeback victory, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark could not contain her excitement.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
  • The shocking 2023 implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which instantly killed all five passengers, is the subject of a damning new documentary from Netflix.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grisly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grisly. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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