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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grotesque
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
This grotesque ’50s fantasy dies at their gaudy wedding, which begins with Nate vomiting; talk of diarrhea and divorce, not joy, brings Cassie to tears walking down the aisle.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 May 2026
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Gilliam is an artist of bizarre panoramas; his imagination and humor are visual — full of the dystopic, the heroic, and the grotesque.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Adjective
Hayashida’s manga ran for 18 years across 23 volumes starting in 2000, building an international cult readership on the strength of its grotesque body horror, deadpan humor and bleak surrealist worldbuilding.
—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
This grotesque ’50s fantasy dies at their gaudy wedding, which begins with Nate vomiting; talk of diarrhea and divorce, not joy, brings Cassie to tears walking down the aisle.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 May 2026
Noun
Phillips rose to prominence in the ‘90s for glossy, photorealistic paintings like Below that grappled with sexuality, beauty and the grotesque.
—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Gilliam is an artist of bizarre panoramas; his imagination and humor are visual — full of the dystopic, the heroic, and the grotesque.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotesque
Adjective
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The Brookhaven City Council unanimously approved a 40% hike in the city’s property tax rate earlier this week over loud opposition from some residents.
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The equalizer was exactly what Ecuador’s fans needed to get loud, roaring with joy after Germany's early lead was cut.
Adjective
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With one notable exception, everyone over there has nothing but ugly things to say about their main villa counterparts.
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Women superheroes have always activated an ugly segment of the internet.
Noun
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Or will the monsters get in their way?
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Making matters worse, Christophe has a spinal condition that requires him to wear a massive metal back brace 24/7, turning him into a pre-teen metal monster.
Adjective
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Plant magnolias somewhere they will be protected from harsh winds, especially when buds or flowers are developing.
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Most clarifying shampoos tend to be a little harsh and drying, but this one is gentle and nourishing.
Adjective
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Everyone's favorite hideous ogre and delusional donkey are finally reunited.
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This is a hideous colour, the sort that shouldn’t be seen anywhere other than on someone helping kids cross the road near a school.
Adjective
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That is why watching Ronaldo against DR Congo last Wednesday felt jarring.
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While go-arounds can feel jarring to passengers, they are still considered common and happen daily in the US, Michael McCormick, a former FAA air traffic manager and an associate professor in air traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, previously told CNN.
Adjective
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The remarks not only referred to the aesthetics of the game – tedious matches devoid of skillful merit that were unpleasing to watch.
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Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.
Adjective
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French broadcaster French Pierron was under fire for calling childbirth 'a disgusting moment.
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How to make the moment scary but watchable, disgusting but entrancing?
Cite this Entry
“Grotesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotesque. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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