Synonyms of gruesome

gruesome

adjective

ˈgrü-səm 

variants also grewsome

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent

didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

• horrific
• horrible
• shocking
• terrible
• awful
• frightening
• grisly
• scary
• horrifying
• macabre
• hideous
• dreadful
• sickening
• terrifying
• disgusting
• nightmarish
• nightmare
• dire
• appalling
• ghastly
• horrid
• terrific
• ugly
• direful
• frightful
• monstrous
• lurid
• horrendous
• atrocious
• alarming
• formidable
• revolting
• offensive
• repulsive
• loathsome
• obscene
• fearful
• heinous
• vile
• repugnant
• unspeakable
• grotesque
• fearsome
• gut-wrenching
• abhorrent
• deplorable
• obnoxious
• abominable
• disagreeable
• evil
• odious
• bloodcurdling
• distasteful
• forbidding
• hair-raising
• heart-stopping
• nauseating
• redoubtable
• intimidating
• noxious
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• attractive
• delightful
• delicious
• enjoyable
• appealing
• satisfying
• pleasurable
• welcome
• agreeable
• enticing
• delectable
• pleasing
• inviting
• comforting
• soothing
• cheering

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

Recent Examples of gruesome

Brownmiller condemned his gruesome death at the hands of white men but also blamed Till for the claimed incident that led to his death: whistling at killer Roy Bryant's wife, Carolyn. —Susan Brownmiller, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025

In the darkness, the pacifier's button and shield resembled an eyeball, making Blacklock mistake it for something gruesome. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

Whereas those behind the morning anchors desk at Channel 4 New York deployed tame wordplay about lighthearted stories, fill-in nightly news host Denise (Johansson) applied the same technique to reports about gruesome crimes. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2025

The husband-and-wife pair were accused of committing some of the most gruesome crimes imaginable, targeting their own children and vulnerable women in their community. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025