grisly

adjective

ˈgriz-lē How to pronounce grisly (audio)
Definition of grislynext
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent the police report described the murder scene in grisly detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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 The grisly discovery of a human skull got even more mysterious when searchers in western North Carolina failed to locate additional bones. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 By the 20th century, the use of mummy brown had begun to decline, with more people becoming aware of its grisly origins. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 29, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026 Prior to her grisly murder, Abby had married Lizzie’s father, Andrew, two years after his wife and Lizzie’s mother died, according to Biography. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Both Republicans unloaded on Cooper's tenure as governor, with Trump blaming Cooper for a grisly North Carolina murder and accusing him of doing nothing to help the state after Hurricane Helene inflicted widespread damage in 2024. — Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grisly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grisly
  1. gruesome
  2. horrific
  3. shocking
Adjective
  • Then there is Gemini, whose brief tenure as a public company has been simply gruesome.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Lechner was a member of the 75th Rangers in Somalia and suffered a gruesome gunshot wound to his tibia.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • The battle is between that horrible atmosphere and some of the horrific candidates that have been nominated by the Democratic Party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The plot is carried out to horrific proportions, but the subjects are so utterly moronic that the gag stops being amusing.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • The mother of a toddler who was found breathing in a hospital morgue hours after being pronounced dead is speaking out about the shocking incident.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Sunday’s shocking loss to the Arizona Cardinals dropped Los Angeles to 2-4, and, suddenly, a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations is fighting to stay in the playoff picture.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shocking

Browse Nearby Words

grisliness
grisly
grist
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Cite this Entry

“Grisly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grisly. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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