GRISLY Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

grisly

adjective

ˈgriz-lē

Definition of grisly next

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

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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 Sawa's grisly vision of a mid-air plane explosion remains the franchise's most resonant premonition — who hasn't boarded a flight while trying to stifle similar fears? —

Randall Colburn, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025 And what is the escape route from the grisly, anhedonic funk? —

Matt Thompson, SPIN, 3 Feb. 2025 The day after police made the grisly discovery, Baumeister vanished. —

Kc Baker, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025 Within 10 minutes, the first emergency unit arrived on the grisly scene, surveying the wreckage of both aircraft in the Potomac River. —

Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for grisly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grisly

Adjective

Friday’s 102-86 setback in Brooklyn - marked by a gruesome fourth quarter in which Miami was outscored 31-9 – left the Heat at 25-25.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
Osgood Perkins is back in his horror bag to bring the short story from Stephen King to the big screen, following twin brothers Bill and Hal, who find their father's old toy monkey in the attic, an event which leads to a series of gruesome deaths.

— Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025