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 First responders recounted the grisly scene at the family’s Duxbury home, where Cora, Dawson and Callan were found lying in the basement with exercise resistance bands around their necks. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 The nation became both fascinated and sickened with the case during the nine-month trial that ensued, which resulted in Manson being sentenced to death in 1971 for conspiracy to commit the grisly murders. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The gruesome, grisly details were superfluous, unlike an earlier obituary style in which the how sometimes seemed to predominate over the who, what, when, where, and why. — Sam Roberts, Longreads, 11 Aug. 2026 After news broke of the grisly discovery, Alvarez, like many fans, refused to believe Burke was involved. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grisly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grisly
  1. gruesome
  2. horrific
  3. shocking
Adjective
  • In 1987, the United Klans of America was ordered to pay $7 million for the gruesome 1981 murder of Michael Donald, a Black teenager whose body was found hanging from a tree in Mobile, Alabama.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Her credits include Obi-Wan, Rebel Moon and The Orville, as well as the gruesome culinary creations of Grotesquerie and drinkable blood for American Horror Story.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of gruesome
Adjective
  • And because Kennerly has captured moments both triumphant and horrific, a warning, some of these pictures are graphic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The offseason has been horrific at UNC — will the football improve?
    — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrific
Adjective
  • In front of adoring fans in Shanghai, the UFC veteran and perennial contender in the UFC bantamweight division scored a shocking upset win over Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event on Saturday.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The August nonfarm payrolls report that releases Friday will be coming off a low set of expectations, given the shocking loss of jobs in July.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 28 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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