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
• nightmare
• horrible
• horrifying
• terrible
• frightening
• terrifying
• terrific
• macabre
• dreadful
• hideous
• awful
• nightmarish
• scary
• ghastly
• appalling
• sickening
• horrid
• lurid
• frightful
• monstrous
• horrendous
• atrocious
• disgusting
• grewsome
• alarming
• fearful
• grotesque
• ugly
• formidable
• obscene
• dire
• revolting
• loathsome
• offensive
• direful
• repulsive
• heinous
• unspeakable
• fearsome
• repugnant
• gut-wrenching
• abominable
• disagreeable
• forbidding
• intimidating
• deplorable
• abhorrent
• odious
• bloodcurdling
• obnoxious
• vile
• evil
• 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

While Kraus was staying in northern Minnesota, in a mining region known as the Iron Range, news reports emerged of a grisly murder allegedly committed by three teen-agers. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

Hawke returns too, grumbling and growling behind a rubber mask (and, eventually, some grisly prosthetics). —Katie Rife, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2025

The August grisly murder of Ukrainian emigre Iryna Zarutska seemed to capture the media for a day. —Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025

During his arraignment first in District Court and then Superior Court, prosecutors read a series of grisly internet searches done on an iPad found in the home. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025

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