gruesome

or grew·some

[ groo-suhm ]

adjective

1. causing great horror; horribly repugnant; grisly:

   the site of a gruesome murder.

2. full of or causing problems; distressing:

   a gruesome day at the office.

gruesome

/ ˈɡruːsəm /

adjective

1. inspiring repugnance and horror; ghastly

Derived Forms

• ˈgruesomeness, noun
• ˈgruesomely, adverb

Other Words From

• gruesome·ly adverb
• gruesome·ness noun
• un·gruesome adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruesome¹

1560–70; obsolete grue to shudder (cognate with German grauen, Dutch gruwen ) + -some ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruesome¹

C16: originally Northern English and Scottish; see grue , -some ¹

Example Sentences

The 2019 murder of 76-year-old Chyong Jen Tsai was as gruesome as it was unexpected; the Arcadia grandmother was found dead in her own backyard after she was viciously attacked with a hammer, a jab saw and a box cutter, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

Preventing another gruesome Trump execution spree is one final thing the president has the power to do.

From Slate

Burkina Faso's armed forces say they are investigating a gruesome video that purports to show military volunteers hacking apart a dead body with machetes, while gloating to the camera.

From BBC

These are just two of the most gruesome horror stories brought about by Florida’s abortion ban.

From Slate

The renewed celebrity status of the house has since become a goldmine of viral content for TikTokers who film the mansion and rehash the gruesome details of the murder scene for online audiences or raise the idea of a haunting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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