gruesome
gb/ɡɹˈusəm/ us/ɡɹˈusəm/
C1
English
hátborzongató, borzalmas
C1
1
Usage pattern:
a gruesome [crime/accident/death/scene/injury]
Police described the crime scene as gruesome.
A rendőrség hátborzongatónak írta le a bűntett helyszínét.
The report included gruesome photographs of the injuries.
A jelentés hátborzongató fényképeket is tartalmazott a sérülésekről.
Witnesses spoke of a gruesome accident on the motorway.
Learner examples
It was a gruesome story about a murder.
Ez egy hátborzongató történet volt egy gyilkosságról.
The movie has some gruesome scenes.
A filmben van néhány hátborzongató jelenet.
Common mistake:
Do not use for something only mildly unpleasant; it usually suggests horror or graphic violence.
Meaning
shocking because violent or bloody
Collocations
gruesome murder
|gruesome death
|gruesome accident
|gruesome injuries
|gruesome crime
|gruesome scene
|gruesome discovery
|gruesome photograph
|gruesome details
|gruesome wound
Synonyms
grisly (Strongly linked to death or violence, often in news/reporting.)
|
gory (Emphasizes blood and physical detail.)
|
horrific (Broader; may be less specifically about blood.)
Antonyms
harmless (Not dangerous or frightening.)
|
pleasant (Gives enjoyment rather than horror.)
Themes
crime
|news
|health
|emotions
Definition
Very scary and unpleasant, often because of blood or death.
Extremely unpleasant and shocking, especially because it involves violence, injury, blood, or death.
C1
2
borzalmas
B1
Usage pattern:
a gruesome [ordeal/thought/story/truth]
The documentary reveals a gruesome truth about the camps.
A dokumentumfilm feltárja a táborok borzalmas igazságát.
He had a gruesome feeling that something was wrong.
Borzalmas érzése volt, hogy valami nincs rendben.
She gave a gruesome account of what the family went through.
Learner examples
It was a gruesome experience for him.
Ez borzalmas élmény volt számára.
Common mistake:
In this sense it still implies shock or horror; for ordinary ‘bad’ use words like bad/awful.
Meaning
extremely unpleasant and disturbing
Collocations
gruesome ordeal
|gruesome truth
|gruesome thought
|gruesome story
|gruesome account
|gruesome nightmare
|gruesome experience
|gruesome conditions
|a gruesome surprise
|gruesome reading
Synonyms
ghastly (More old-fashioned in tone; often used for shocking unpleasantness.)
|
appalling (Common and broad; focuses on strong disapproval and shock.)
|
dreadful (Often milder; can mean simply very bad, depending on context.)
Antonyms
reassuring (Makes you feel calmer rather than disturbed.)
|
delightful (Gives pleasure rather than disgust or horror.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|media
Definition
Very horrible and hard to think about.
Extremely unpleasant, disturbing, or horrifying, even when not describing blood or physical violence.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gruesome
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈusəm/
US/ɡɹˈusəm/
Syllables & stress
grue - some (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grue)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: gruesome
Word family
Related words
gruesomely
adverb C1
Advanced or less common
gruesomeness
noun
Expressions
gruesome twosome
1/ɡɹˈusəm tˈusəm/
fixed phrase
informal
two sinister people together
Two people who seem scary or bad together.
Examples
- Tabloids dubbed the two suspects the “gruesome twosome.”
- In the sequel, the gruesome twosome returns to cause trouble.
- The article portrayed the two criminals as a gruesome twosome.
in gruesome detail
1/ˈɪn ɡɹˈusəm dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
with graphic unpleasant details
With lots of shocking, unpleasant details.
Examples
- The witness described the attack in gruesome detail.
- Some reviews complained that the film shows the killings in gruesome detail.
- He recounted his injuries in gruesome detail, making everyone uncomfortable.
Learner examples
- She described the accident in gruesome detail.