1
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense
the gaudy, overdecorated interior of the gambling casino was just too grotesque for my taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ugly
unpleasant to look at
that bloody Halloween mask is grotesque
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in monster
a strange or horrible and often frightening creature
a gallery of grotesques from some horror movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grotesque
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2025
Their legacy includes the extreme outfits of the flamboyant criminals and hairdressers in Female Trouble (1974) and the grotesque Mortvillians in Desperate Living (1977) Smith to Polyester (1982) and Hairspray (1988) to more mainstream films such as Cry-Baby (1990) and Serial Mom (1994).
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Washington National Cathedral, a famous example of Neo-Gothic architecture, is known for its collection of more than a hundred gargoyles and grotesques, including funny ones.
—Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 14 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Adjective
For an undercover cop in 1997, the art of baiting gay men into propositioning you in public restrooms is a grotesque art form that requires a strict adherence to the rules.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2025
Their legacy includes the extreme outfits of the flamboyant criminals and hairdressers in Female Trouble (1974) and the grotesque Mortvillians in Desperate Living (1977) Smith to Polyester (1982) and Hairspray (1988) to more mainstream films such as Cry-Baby (1990) and Serial Mom (1994).
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
More amusingly, among the gargoyles and grotesques that dot the various towers are one in the form of a corrupt politician and another representing Darth Vader.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Washington National Cathedral, a famous example of Neo-Gothic architecture, is known for its collection of more than a hundred gargoyles and grotesques, including funny ones.
—Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 14 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for grotesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grotesque
Adjective
-
Portola overcame a loud home crowd and spirit band, a taller opponent and foul trouble to collect a wire-to-wire 57-49 victory in a Division II second round game at El Capitan High.—
Dan Albano,
Orange County Register,
7 Mar. 2025
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In the new court filing, phone records show Mortensen tried calling the other four roommates – but got no response – around the time when security camera from a residence close to the home picked up at 4:17 a.m. distorted audio of voices, a whimper, followed by a loud thud, and a barking dog.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The advanced metrics paint an ugly picture for the Suns as well over that span: 114.0 OffRtg (11th), 117.3 DefRtg (27th), -3.2 NetRtg (21st).—
Evan Sidery,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Or the constitutional dystopia in which we are now caught, beside which even the ugliest onscreen villainy pales into insignificance?—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Potgieter is usually a monster off the tee, leading the tour in driving distance coming into the week.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The soldiers, both in the streets and at guard posts, fired their weapons, trying to prevent the moon from being eaten by a mythical monster frog called Reahou.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike Western cleansers, which often rely on harsh surfactants or astringent ingredients, Korean ones maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and natural pH balance, says Cho.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
When the youth miracle drug turns to body horror, Moore becomes the decaying mutation called Gollum, made to look like a slow-progressing disease, while Moore and her younger incarnation (played by Margaret Qualley), merge into the hideous Monstro.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
2 Mar. 2025
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But the idea of a woman who is kind of crippled, or is struggling physically, to have the one and only thing that is supporting her, kicked out from underneath her is so vile and hideous.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Dreamy forests and bright angels curdle and mutate into digital grotesquerie, a Spam Folder of faceless creatures and shock shlock.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
19 Feb. 2025
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And his finest work, the 1990 television soap opera Twin Peaks, could also be considered a sensitive, comedic Rorschach test, given its all-American grotesqueries — the definition of his artistic expression.—
Armond White,
National Review,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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My lifestyle was far from healthy, but the sudden shift to remote work was jarring.—
Tania Navarro,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
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The most jarring stat of all in favor of a reload is the fact the Islanders haven’t won a postseason series following a full 82-game regular season since the spring of 2019.—
Jerry Beach,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Smears on non-sensor areas of the tiara are like bug debris on your hood, aesthetically unpleasing but not harmful.—
Eric Tegler,
Popular Mechanics,
1 Oct. 2019
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His side's inability to finish off the game against Burnley on the other hand was very unpleasing.—
SI.com,
SI.com,
1 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Grotesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grotesque. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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