GROTESQUE Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

grotesque 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of grotesque

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ugly

unpleasant to look at that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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 grotesque

Adjective

The zombie is one of the most elastic and grotesque villains in the genre, shifting dramatically from early-Hollywood films built on racial stereotypes to the now-popular vision of a monster that yearns to devour those still living. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 The choice of chartreuse — a borderline putrid shade of it, no less — walked an appropriate tightrope between glamorous and grotesque. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for grotesque

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotesque

Adjective

But the Sweetgreen on the Upper East Side was both loud and had nowhere to sit, a sad reflection of how Americans view workday lunches.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Frequent awakenings, loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches or uncomfortable leg sensations warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of loud

Adjective

The league and its players’ union are heading for an ugly fight, years in the making.

— Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Cooling plates manage heat during normal operation, while passive barriers and electrical isolation are designed to contain the ugly edge cases that Beta’s testing process intentionally triggers.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of ugly

Noun

At last untethered from merely adapting a standard comfy passenger vehicle, the AMG engineers have created a monster.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
Set on a mysterious island ravaged by floods and warring armies, a masked boy and girl must traverse atmospheric environments, rescue friends, and confront nightmarish monsters.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of monster

Adjective

In his latest romp, corporate greed, lovable cows and hideous monsters converge in Richland, Ohio.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026
The greatest player in the world was reduced to the role of supporting actor by Stan Wawrinka, who delivered a masterclass of a performance in possibly the most hideous shorts ever seen on a tennis court.

— Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of hideous

Adjective

Lance Oppenheim, who co-directed the buzzy A24 doc with Nathan Fielder, has now revealed just how that jarring shower scene came to be — and why Evans might have been fine with revealing all to begin with.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
This all plays out with a lot of frequent jarring tonal mismatches, and some bafflingly overwrought dramatic beats, especially around Vision’s makeshift self-repair.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of jarring

Adjective

The identity of the unpleasing Lindsay Marriott’s slayer has no pressing interest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.

— Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026

Definition of unpleasing

Adjective

Lamar’s performance of his slanderous mambo was the only real moment of drama and tension amid the Philadelphia Eagles’ unaesthetic beatdown of the Kansas City Chiefs.

— Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2025
Insufficient split, bent and separated legs and unaesthetic body position are a few of the others that fall under that category.

— Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2024

Definition of unaesthetic

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“Grotesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotesque. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grotesque

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noun

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