gruesome

[groo-suhm] / ˈgru səm /

ADJECTIVE

horrible, awful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appalling frightful ghastly grim grisly hideous horrendous horrid horrific horrifying lurid macabre morbid shocking terrible terrifying ugly weird

WEAK

abominable daunting fearful grody gross loathsome monstrous offensive repugnant repulsive sick spine-tingling

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attractive cheerful comforting delightful gentle good happy nice normal pleasant pleasing wonderful

WEAK

pretty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s also getting more gruesome, and therefore less fun.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Their favorite move is a gasp-laugh, as when they flash a gruesome image on screen that’s so disgusting you can’t help but giggle.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

There are also concerns about the gruesome foot blisters that hampered Djokovic.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

It’s an example that underscores how our gruesome microbial adversaries are not, after all, very old.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

“A necropsy?” he said, making a gruesome face.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Vocabulary lists containing gruesome

The Devil's Arithmetic

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

A Long Way Gone

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Beowulf vocabulary

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!