gruesome

grue-some · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Causing repulsion or horror; extremely unpleasant, especially involving death or injury.

  2. 2.

    Very unpleasant or disagreeable.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    gruesome discovery — Finding something horrific
  • •
    gruesome twosome — (humorous) Two people who are partners in mischief
  • •
    in gruesome detail — With disturbing specificity

Related words

Antonyms: delightful, pleasant
See also: ghastly, grisly, horrific, macabre
Synonyms: ghastly, grisly, horrific, macabre

Etymology

From Scots grue ("to shudder, feel horror") + -some (adjective suffix). The word grue came from Dutch or Low German gruwen ("to shudder"). First recorded in the 16th century but popularized in the 19th century.