gory

adjective

ˈgȯr-ē 

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling, sensational

wanted to hear the gory details

Synonyms

• bloodstained
• bloody

Choose the Right Synonym for gory

bloody, sanguinary, gory mean affected by or involving the shedding of blood.

bloody is applied especially to things that are actually covered with blood or are made up of blood.

bloody hands

sanguinary applies especially to something attended by, or someone inclined to, bloodshed.

the Civil War was America's most sanguinary conflict

gory suggests a profusion of blood and slaughter.

exceptionally gory, even for a horror movie

Examples of gory in a Sentence

doesn't watch too many movies that feature gory violence

Recent Examples on the Web

Complementing the costumes were grungy makeup and greasy hair, as well as inventive prosthetics to achieve the gorier moments. —Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025

Popular on Variety The other shoe drops when realizing that Leone’s positivity is in service of one of the goriest horror movies ever made. —William Earl, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024

Which makes the Irish designer’s work a particularly apposite choice for Demi Moore, star of The Substance, in which a younger version of her character, Elisabeth Sparkle, literally bursts forth from her flesh in scenes gorier than any wildlife documentary. —Kerry McDermott, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2025

But based on recent archeological research, at least some Magdalenian groups also engaged in a gorier pastime: cannibalism. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gory

• gory details
• in gory detail

Rhymes for gory

• corrie
• corry
• cory
• dory
• flory
• glory
• hoary
• horry
• kauri
• lori
• lorry
• lory

Kids Definition

gory

adjective

ˈgō(ə)r-ē 

ˈgȯ(ə)r-

gorier; goriest

1

: covered with gore : bloodstained

2

: bloodcurdling