Synonyms of grotesque

grotesque 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in loud

disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense

the gaudy, overdecorated interior of the gambling casino was just too grotesque for my taste

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loud
• ugly
• harsh
• jarring
• unaesthetic
• disgusting
• unpleasant
• grating
• tawdry
• gaudy
• garish
• bizarre
• repulsive
• acid
• inartistic
• obscene
• tacky
• vulgar
• repugnant
• tasteless
• unpleasing
• flashy
• artless
• odd
• gross
• inelegant
• uncouth
• crude
• disagreeable
• clumsy
• dissonant
• outlandish
• uncultured
• shocking
• raucous
• unartistic
• jolting
• unrefined
• unmusical
• graceless
• kinky
• rude
• inharmonious
• ragged
• raspy
• discordant
• disharmonious
• unmelodious
• off-key
• clashing
• blaring
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aesthetic
• artistic
• beautiful
• artful
• attractive
• becoming
• good
• appealing
• agreeable
• harmonious
• felicitous
• pleasing
• comforting
• elegant
• soothing
• comely
• graceful
• subdued
• tasteful
• gracious
• softened
• seemly
• refined
• polished
• cultured
• harmonizing
• calming

2

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at

that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ugly
• hideous
• unpleasing
• disgusting
• awful
• monstrous
• unattractive
• unappealing
• vile
• unsightly
• homely
• unlovely
• horrible
• unbeautiful
• sickening
• repulsive
• loathsome
• revolting
• appalling
• uncomely
• abominable
• unpretty
• unhandsome
• ill-favored
• repugnant
• abhorrent
• nauseating
• horrid
• repellent
• dreadful
• distasteful
• gross
• nauseous
• noisome
• unbecoming
• plain
• unaesthetic
• frumpy
• unshapely
• frumpish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beautiful
• attractive
• aesthetic
• stunning
• lovely
• handsome
• gorgeous
• pretty
• cute
• ravishing
• fair
• beauteous
• goodly
• good-looking
• seemly
• comely
• drop-dead
• knockout
• fetching
• taking
• shapely
• impressive
• sightly
• imposing
• bonny
• well-favored
• prepossessing

grotesque

2 of 2

noun

grō-ˈtesk 

as in monster

a strange or horrible and often frightening creature

a gallery of grotesques from some horror movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

• monster
• demon
• grotesquerie
• ogre
• monstrosity
• Frankenstein
• terror
• fright
• horror
• devil
• abomination
• abnormality
• incubus
• ogress
• bugaboo
• bugbear
• imp
• banshee
• mutant
• bogey
• mutation
• bête noire
• anathema
• bogeyman
• freak
• fiend

Synonym Chooser

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

The words bizarre and fantastic are common synonyms of grotesque. While all three words mean "conceived, made, or carried out without adherence to truth or reality," grotesque may apply to what is conventionally ugly but artistically effective or it may connote ludicrous awkwardness or incongruity often with sinister or tragic overtones.

grotesque statues on the cathedral

though grieving, she made a grotesque attempt at a smile

When could bizarre be used to replace grotesque?

In some situations, the words bizarre and grotesque are roughly equivalent. However, bizarre applies to the sensationally strange and implies violence of contrast or incongruity of combination.

a bizarre medieval castle in the heart of a modern city

When would fantastic be a good substitute for grotesque?

The words fantastic and grotesque are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fantastic may connote extravagance in conception or ingenuity of decorative invention.

dreamed up fantastic rumors

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grotesque

Adjective

Stumble upon grotesque, dead bodies, or be led, masked or blindfolded, to hidden rooms of ill repute. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Oppenheim has persuasively rendered a grotesque phenomenon, but his curiosity seems to stop at how everyone and everything looked. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

The script, by Ed Solomon, treats the Sklar siblings as cardboard grotesques—heartless, talentless, united in their loathing of a father who loathes them right back. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

Indeed, compared with the realistically creased faces and hangdog stares of the Cubs, the Boston fans behind them are closer to grotesques, an inhuman crush of caricatures. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026