ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.
a ghastly accident
grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.
an unusually grisly murder
suffered a gruesome death
macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.
a macabre tale of premature burial
lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.
the lurid details of a crime
Example Sentences
The police report described the scene in gruesome detail. didn't stick around to hear the gruesome details of the car accident
Recent Examples on the WebJoe Pompeo's Blood & Ink tracks not only the story of the gruesome, mysterious killing but also the way the story helped create the American love affair with money and murder. The Editors, Town & Country, 9 Sep. 2022 It’s not just Europe that has seen such extraordinary and gruesome revelations. Duncan Madden, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 This results in the world’s most gruesome, medieval C-section, which kills Aemma but saves the baby — and it’s a boy. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Aug. 2022 Why the trial over Kobe Bryant crash photos has gotten so gruesome. Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2022 Although the recent incidents seem especially gruesome, officials say the violence has been brewing for over a decade. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 Weisberg recently worked with a high-profile actress client who was targeted in a particularly gruesome fashion. Tatiana Siegel, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2022 On Thursday afternoon, the Ravens once again faced another hot and gruesome practice. Jonas Shaffer, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2022 Bovaird points to the instantly recognizable red cowboy suit worn by Steven Yeun’s fame-hungry character, Jupe, during a pivotal, and gruesome, scene. André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier growsome, from English dialect grow, grue to shiver, from Middle English gruen, probably from Middle Dutch grūwen; akin to Old High German ingrūēn to shiver