variants also grewsome
Definition of gruesomenext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of gruesome are ghastly, grisly, 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

Where would ghastly be a reasonable alternative to gruesome?

The words ghastly and gruesome can be used in similar contexts, but ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do lurid and gruesome relate to one another?

Lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

When can macabre be used instead of gruesome?

While the synonyms macabre and gruesome are close in meaning, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

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 gruesome Background characters have gruesome war wounds or shell shock, and postwar Liverpool has been bombed back to Victorian levels of deprivation. Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 The desk Obama used alongside his chambers chairs met a gruesome end when it, along with other desks in the Senate, was destroyed after remodeling in late 2006. Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026 The roommate of a man who was stabbed inside his Baltimore home is speaking about the gruesome crime in a WJZ Investigates exclusive. Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026 Instead of picturing that exercise as long and gruesome, try breaking it up. Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gruesome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruesome
Adjective
  • With the partial restoration of internet access, people inside the country and others who have left in recent days shared videos and stories with ABC News that shows the horrific nature of the regime's suppression of the protests.
    Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Syria’s horrific civil war killed more than 500,000 people over a 14-year period starting in 2011.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • As buried family secrets and small-town lies emerge, Courtney must decide who to trust before a shocking revelation changes everything.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Louisiana State Police announced on Saturday the capture of all eight inmates who escaped early Friday in a shocking East Carroll Parish jailbreak.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Are there horrible smells wafting around?
    Clio Chang, Curbed, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • That alone would be nightmare enough, but this debate has been constructed and is moderated by Sam Reich.
    Nic Juarez, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the weekend, we were reminded of an even more horrifying football ritual following the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 5 Jan. 2026
  • But this super drug has horrifying consequences.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Huw is also a terrible planner, placing himself in dangerous situations for no discernible reason, refusing to ask for help or call the police at times when calling the police is the most glaringly obvious move, and generally not communicating with anyone.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • At age 55, Riggle once suffered through decades of heartbreak and terrible Chiefs teams.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But that depiction was picked apart by a vast array of online onlookers, from law enforcement experts to ordinary Instagram users, some of whom replayed the videos frame by frame and zoomed in to show the episode in frightening detail.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The news this week that CPW employees are facing a variety of threats from radical elements in both groups of Coloradans strikes us as ironic sad — and frightening.
    The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Special mention must be made of the in-room minibars, which are terrific, and so extensive that they are contained not within a single small fridge but an entire chest of drawers.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Lenert made a terrific save on a solid strike by JSerra midfielder Carter Biondolillo, with Lenert diving to his left to make the crucial stop in the second half.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gruesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gruesome. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gruesome

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