gory

adjective

ˈgȯr-ē 

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling, sensational

wanted to hear the gory details

Synonyms

• bloodstained
• bloody

Choose the Right Synonym for gory

bloody, sanguinary, gory mean affected by or involving the shedding of blood.

bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Examples of gory in a Sentence

doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence

Recent Examples on the Web

This month alone, horror has produced two No. 1 movies in the U.S., with the tremendously gory Terrifier 3 grossing nearly $27 million in its first week, and Smile 2 following up with a $31 million debut of its own. —Chris Dobstaff, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

The gory violence, sending digital heads and limbs flying in slow motion, is gorier. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2024

The latter seems to be the major force ruling over a godforsaken corner of Ireland where, in one of the film’s gorier sequences, dozens upon dozens of sheep are illicitly slaughtered so their hind legs can be sold for cheap meat. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

The Xenomorph’s attacks are violent, extremely gory, and disorientingly hectic. —James Grebey, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gory

• gory details
• in gory detail

Kids Definition

gory

adjective

ˈgō(ə)r-ē 

ˈgȯ(ə)r-

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling