grisly

adjective gris·ly \ˈgriz-lē\

: causing horror or fear : very shocking

gris·li·ergris·li·est

Full Definition of GRISLY

: inspiring horror or intense fear <houses that were dark and grisly under the blank, cold sky — D. H. Lawrence>

: inspiring disgust or distaste <a grisly account of the fire>

— gris·li·ness noun

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Origin of GRISLY

Middle English, from Old English grislic, from gris- (akin to Old English āgrīsan to fear); akin to Old High German grīsenlīh terrible

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to GRISLY

Synonyms: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, horrible, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific

Synonym Discussion of GRISLY

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect. 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>.