Synonyms of grisly

grisly

adjective

ˈgriz-lē 

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

the police report described the murder scene in grisly detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• horrible
• nightmare
• terrible
• horrifying
• frightening
• terrifying
• terrific
• macabre
• hideous
• dreadful
• awful
• scary
• nightmarish
• ghastly
• appalling
• horrid
• sickening
• lurid
• frightful
• monstrous
• horrendous
• atrocious
• disgusting
• alarming
• fearful
• dire
• ugly
• grotesque
• formidable
• obscene
• direful
• revolting
• loathsome
• offensive
• repulsive
• heinous
• unspeakable
• fearsome
• repugnant
• gut-wrenching
• abominable
• disagreeable
• deplorable
• forbidding
• bloodcurdling
• abhorrent
• odious
• intimidating
• obnoxious
• evil
• vile
• distasteful
• redoubtable
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• nauseating
• noxious
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• delightful
• attractive
• delicious
• satisfying
• appealing
• enjoyable
• welcome
• agreeable
• pleasurable
• delectable
• enticing
• pleasing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

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

Recent Examples of grisly

Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist who tries to help young Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a troubled boy who sees grisly visions of the dead, with Toni Collette as his desperate mother. —Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025

The real Nativity—for Mary, but also for anybody hoping to bring new life onto the scene—is a shocking, grisly business, including, these days, an operating table and a tangle of bleeping machines. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2025

The dread-fueling 1974 horror classic follows a group of sorority girls who become victims of grisly murders over Christmas break after receiving a series of disturbing phone calls. —Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

While Rob Reiner's home in Brentwood, California, will forever be linked to the grisly murders of the iconic filmmaker and his wife, Michele, the house has a storied history that precedes the crimes committed inside. —Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025

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