GRUESOME Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

gruesome

adjective

ˈgrü-səm

variants also grewsome

Definition of gruesome next

as in horrific

extremely disturbing or repellent didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident

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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

Examples 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 Most recently, The Substance, widely touted as a tongue-in-cheek feminist narrative mocking the debilitating limits of Hollywood beauty culture, kills off its heroine (Demi Moore) in the most gruesome, punishing way. —

Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Dec. 2024 Houston Texans star receiver Tank Dell went down with an apparent gruesome knee injury in the third quarter of Saturday's contest against the Kansas City Chief. —

Andrew Greif, NBC News, 21 Dec. 2024 The crime and trial fueled a gruesome media circus that drove the Lindberghs to Europe—and Hauptmann to the electric chair. Lindbergh and his wife, Anne, lived on a country estate near Hopewell, New Jersey. —

Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 Bring on more implausible shenanigans from Allison Williams’s roboticist and Violet McGraw as her grieving niece, as well as more wild fight scenes, gruesome deaths, and bizarre twists. —

Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gruesome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gruesome

Adjective

This individual’s conduct and language were vile, disgusting, unacceptable, and horrific and have no place in our workplace and society.

— Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025
The horrific Palisades Fire may have started at a spot near the popular Temescal Ridge trail.

— Andrew Moseman, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025