Grisly: meaning, definitions and examples

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grisly

 

[หˆษกrษชzli ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

crime scene

Causing horror or disgust

Synonyms

ghastly, gruesome, macabre.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
grisly

This word is often used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant and involves horror, especially related to death or injury.

  • The detective was met with a grisly crime scene.
  • The movie contained some truly grisly scenes.
gruesome

Gruesome is used for things that are horrifying, repellent, or involve a lot of blood and violence.

  • The details of the murder were too gruesome to discuss.
  • There was a gruesome accident on the highway.
macabre

Macabre is often used to describe things that are disturbing because they are connected with death and decay. It has an element of the bizarre or unnatural.

  • His artwork often has a macabre theme.
  • They told a macabre tale of a haunted graveyard.
ghastly

Ghastly typically describes something that is shockingly horrible, causing fear, and often suggests a pale, deathly appearance.

  • She looked ghastly after hearing the news.
  • The haunted house had a ghastly atmosphere.

Examples of usage

  • The grisly murder scene sent shivers down the detective's spine.
  • The grisly details of the crime were too much for the witness to bear.
Context #2 | Adjective

horror movie

Extremely unpleasant or shocking

Synonyms

ghastly, gruesome, macabre.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
grisly

Typically used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant and frightening, often because it involves death or injury.

  • The detective arrived at the scene of a grisly murder
gruesome

Used to describe something that is extremely repulsive or horrifying, particularly in a violent or graphic manner. Often used in the context of scenes involving injury or death.

  • The horror movie was filled with gruesome scenes
macabre

This word is applied to situations, stories, or scenes that are disturbing because they involve death or injury, often with a focus on the more disturbing aspects of death.

  • The artist's work had a macabre quality, featuring skeletons and dark themes
ghastly

Often used to describe something that is shocking, very bad, or unpleasant. It conveys a sense of horror or disgust, but can also refer to something that looks pale or deathly.

  • She looked ghastly after hearing the news

Examples of usage

  • The movie was filled with grisly scenes of violence and gore.
  • The audience was horrified by the grisly special effects in the film.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'grisly' comes from the Old English word 'grislic', meaning 'fearful' or 'terrifying'.
  • It is closely related to the word 'grice', which refers to a fearsome creature or spirit.
  • The modern spelling evolved over time, but the meaning has remained linked to fear and horror.

Literature

  • Grisly themes often appear in horror literature, used to evoke strong emotional responses from readers.
  • Stories from Edgar Allan Poe often include grisly details that create a sense of dread and unease.
  • Shakespeare also used grisly imagery to depict betrayal and death in plays like 'Macbeth'.

Psychology

  • Even the mention of grisly subject matters can trigger emotional responses like fear or disgust.
  • Studies show that people are often drawn to grisly content in media, suggesting a complex relationship with fear.
  • Experiencing fear through stories can serve as a safe way for humans to explore emotions and reactions.

Pop Culture

  • Modern horror films often use grisly scenes to shock audiences, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
  • Grisly themes can be found in popular video games, immersing players in dark, suspenseful narratives.
  • The term is frequently used in news reports to describe violent crimes or accidents, indicating the serious nature of the events.

Art

  • Grisly imagery is a hallmark of certain art movements, such as the macabre style of the Baroque period.
  • Contemporary artists sometimes use grisly motifs to challenge comfort zones and provoke thought about violence and mortality.
  • Famous paintings, like Goya's 'Saturn Devouring His Son', depict grisly themes to explore the darker aspects of human nature.

Translations

Translations of the word "grisly" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น horrรญvel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคญเคฏเคพเคจเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช grauenhaft

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mengerikan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะถะฐั…ะปะธะฒะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ straszny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆใ‚ใ—ใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท horrible

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ horrible

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dehลŸet verici

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฌด์‹œ๋ฌด์‹œํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฑุนุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hroznรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hroznรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆๆ€–็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ grozovit

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hrรฆรฐilegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะพั€า›ั‹ะฝั‹ัˆั‚ั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒจแƒ˜แƒœแƒ”แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dษ™hลŸษ™tli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ horrible

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,237, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.