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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in monster
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature
a gallery of grotesques from some horror movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grotesque
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Here, spiritual infractions are met with savage physical punishment and some of the more grotesque images in recent horror memory (which, as the genre has become ever more popular and emboldened, is seriously saying something).
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Winifred, the protagonist of this Victorian-era grotesque, takes a position as a governess at an English manor.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Adjective
But Buono definitely knows and goes hilariously over the top playing the incarnation of evil itself under makeup that grows increasingly grotesque as his scene progresses.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Here, spiritual infractions are met with savage physical punishment and some of the more grotesque images in recent horror memory (which, as the genre has become ever more popular and emboldened, is seriously saying something).
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
While some people expressed excitement about the new look for a key Broad Ripple entrance, others called the sculpture grotesque.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Winifred, the protagonist of this Victorian-era grotesque, takes a position as a governess at an English manor.
—The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotesque
Adjective
-
While Microsoft is moving forward with some facilities, the company withdrew plans for a data center in Caledonia, Wisconsin, amid loud opposition to its efforts there.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This simple taupe geometric style peel-and-stick wallpaper is affordable, easy to apply, and looks gorgeous without being too bold or loud.—
Brittney Morgan,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Many quite authentic Natives were targeted for banishment, and the ugly infighting their work inspired was covered widely—by the standards of Indian affairs—in the American media, which saw the battles as part of the larger identity wars raging across the nation in the new millennium.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In it, Oldham costumes up as a shaggy woodland monster, which—after a more nimble inhabitant seemingly swaps into the outfit—proceeds to engage a human in an elaborate dance routine.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That mentality has fueled a monster debut season for Porter County Conference leader Kouts (12-3, 4-1).—
Noah Poser,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bipartisan harsh criticism Senators from both sides of the aisle blasted the investigation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Such jars of moldy fruit were probably fairly hideous to consume.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Rodents of Unusual Size that attack Westley in a swamp work because they are played by small men in rodent suits, rather than coolly conjured from pixels; their deliberate artifice is the thrill, and Reiner provided the voice for their hideous snorts.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Those concerns echo as Adebayo suffers through a jarring offensive slump that has left him, statistically, among the league’s worst high-volume shooting centers on two-point and three-point attempts.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Soft-close cabinetry is another staple of 2026 kitchen design, according to the report, a trait that not only aids durability but also prevents jarring noises.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
-
His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Having snow, slush, and (eventually) water all over my floors was a disgusting feeling.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grotesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotesque. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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