GRISLY Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'grisly' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of grisly are ghastly , gruesome , 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

Q: When is 'ghastly' a more appropriate choice than 'grisly'?

Although the words ghastly and grisly have much in common, ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts. // a ghastly accident

Q: How do 'lurid' and 'gruesome' relate to one another, in the sense of 'grisly'?

Lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder. // the lurid details of a crime

Q: When might 'macabre' be a better fit than 'grisly'?

While the synonyms macabre and grisly are close in meaning, macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death. // a macabre tale of premature burial

grisly

adjective

ˈgriz-lē

Definition of grisly next

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent the police report described the murder scene in grisly detail

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

Some common synonyms of grisly are ghastly, gruesome, 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

When is ghastly a more appropriate choice than grisly?

Although the words ghastly and grisly have much in common, ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do lurid and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of grisly?

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

the lurid details of a crime

When might macabre be a better fit than grisly?

While the synonyms macabre and grisly 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 grisly Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Janice kept the details of Melvin’s grisly murder from her young son, intent on providing him an idyllic childhood. —

Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025 No information was provided regarding the couple’s daughter, who was reportedly home at the time of the grisly incident. —

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2025 Alongside Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Nathan Fillion), the pair are drawn into a dark mystery on Earth revolving around a grisly murder in middle America. —

Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025 Attacks in the American homeland by those harboring radical Islamist sympathies have happened sporadically, with grisly results, for years — though the extent to which they can be attributed to any specific U.S. president or policy is far more questionable. —

Niall Stanage, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for grisly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grisly

Adjective

Shanks brilliantly paces the story out with several pieces of foreshadowing, including a rat king as symbolism for toxic codependency, mirroring a gruesome story Tim tells Millie about his father’s death and his mother’s mental health.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
Unlike the gruesome, bloodthirsty creatures of classic films and literature, Cullen and his family abstain from drinking the blood of humans.

— Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025