gruesome

1 of 2

adjective

grue·some ˈgrü-səm

variants or less commonly grewsome

Synonyms of gruesome

: inspiring horror or repulsion : grisly

gruesome stories of wounded comrades

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun

gruesomeness

2 of 2

noun

grue·some·ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being gruesome

Choose the Right Synonym for gruesome

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect.

ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

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

the lurid details of a crime

Examples of gruesome in a Sentence

Adjective The police report described the scene in gruesome detail. didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Adjective

Thunder star Jalen Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer and best all-around defender during its title run two seasons ago, fractured a fibula and dislocated his left ankle in a gruesome injury Sunday. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026 Rescue workers continue to search in the wreckage for survivors and bodies, with witnesses describing a gruesome scene. — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026 A little blood is fine, Gomez says, but nothing too gruesome. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Tank Dell had one reception for 43 yards and returned a punt for 14 yards in his return after missing almost two years recovering from a gruesome knee injury. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gruesome

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration of earlier growsome, from English dialect grow, grue to shiver, from Middle English gruen, probably from Middle Dutch grūwen; akin to Old High German ingrūēn to shiver

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of gruesome was circa 1700

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Grues

gruesome

gruesomely

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gruesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruesome. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gruesome

adjective

grue·some ˈgrü-səm

: causing horror or disgust : horrible

gruesomely adverb

gruesomeness noun

gruesome

adjective

noun

Synonyms of gruesome

Examples of gruesome in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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